Multi-path and multi-source 3d content storage, retrieval, and delivery

ABSTRACT

Techniques are described herein for supporting presentation of multi-path and multi-source viewing content. For example, portions of three-dimensional viewing content may be received via respective pathways from respective sources. A visual presentation of the three-dimensional viewing content may be caused based on the portions. In another example, instances of viewing content may be received via respective pathways from respective sources. Configurations of respective regions of a screen may be directed to support display of the respective instances.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/291,818, filed on Dec. 31, 2009, which is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety.

This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 61/303,119, filed on Feb. 10, 2010, which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

This application is also related to the following U.S. patentapplications, each of which also claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Nos. 61/291,818 and 61/303,119 and each of which isincorporated by reference herein:

-   -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/774,225, filed on May 5,        2010, and entitled “Controlling a Pixel Array to Support an        Adaptable Light Manipulator”;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/774,307, filed on May 5,        2010, and entitled “Display with Elastic Light Manipulator”;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,409, filed on Jul. 28,        2010, and entitled “Display With Adaptable Parallax Barrier”;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440, filed on Jul. 28,        2010, and entitled “Adaptable Parallax Barrier Supporting Mixed        2D and Stereoscopic 3D Display Regions”;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,461, filed on Jul. 28,        2010, and entitled “Display Supporting Multiple Simultaneous 3D        Views”;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No.        A05.01210000), filed on even date herewith and entitled        “Backlighting Array Supporting Adaptable Parallax Barrier”;    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No.        A05.01240000), filed on even date herewith and entitled        “Coordinated Driving of Adaptable Light Manipulator,        Backlighting and Pixel Array in Support of Adaptable 2D and 3D        Displays”; and    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No.        A05.01330000), filed on even date herewith and entitled “Video        Compression Supporting Selective Delivery of 2D, Stereoscopic 3D        and Multi-View 3D Content”.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to techniques for supporting presentationof multi-path and multi-source viewing content.

2. Background Art

Images may be generated for display in various forms. For instance,television (TV) is a widely used telecommunication medium fortransmitting and displaying images in monochromatic (“black and white”)or color form. Conventionally, images are provided in analog form andare displayed by display devices in two dimensions. More recently,images are being provided in digital form for display in two dimensionson display devices having improved resolution (e.g., “high definition”or “HD”). Even more recently, images capable of being displayed in threedimensions are being generated.

Conventional displays may use a variety of techniques to achievethree-dimensional (3D) image viewing functionality. For example, varioustypes of glasses have been developed that may be worn by users to viewthree-dimensional images displayed by a conventional display. Examplesof such glasses include glasses that utilize color filters or polarizedfilters. In each case, the lenses of the glasses pass two-dimensional(2D) images of differing perspective to the user's left and right eyes.The images are combined in the visual center of the brain of the user tobe perceived as a three-dimensional image. In another example,synchronized left eye, right eye liquid crystal display (LCD) shutterglasses may be used with conventional two-dimensional image displays tocreate a three-dimensional viewing illusion. In still another example,LCD display glasses are being used to display three-dimensional imagesto a user. The lenses of the LCD display glasses include correspondingdisplays that provide images of differing perspective to the user'seyes, to be perceived by the user as three-dimensional.

Problems exist with such techniques for viewing three-dimensionalimages. For instance, persons that use such displays and systems to viewthree-dimensional images may suffer from headaches, eyestrain, and/ornausea after long exposure. Furthermore, some content, such astwo-dimensional text, may be more difficult to read and interpret whendisplayed three-dimensionally. To address these problems, somemanufacturers have created display devices that may be toggled betweenthree-dimensional viewing and two-dimensional viewing. A display deviceof this type may be switched to a three-dimensional mode for viewing ofthree-dimensional images, and may be switched to a two-dimensional modefor viewing of two-dimensional images (and/or to provide a respite fromthe viewing of three-dimensional images).

A parallax barrier is another example of a device that enables images tobe displayed in three-dimensions. A parallax barrier includes a layer ofmaterial with a series of precision slits. The parallax barrier isplaced proximal to a display so that each of a user's eyes sees adifferent set of pixels to create a sense of depth through parallax. Adisadvantage of parallax barriers is that the viewer must be positionedin a well-defined location in order to experience the three-dimensionaleffect. If the viewer moves his/her eyes away from this “sweet spot,”image flipping and/or exacerbation of the eyestrain, headaches andnausea that may be associated with prolonged three-dimensional imageviewing may result. Conventional three-dimensional displays that utilizeparallax barriers are also constrained in that the displays must beentirely in a two-dimensional image mode or a three-dimensional imagemode at any time.

Some conventional devices are capable of receiving portions of 2Dcontent from different sources to be presented on a single screen. Otherconventional devices are capable of receiving media guide text andprogram channels of media content wherein a remote control is used toproduce guide text overlaying the media content on a single 2D screen.Similarly, a conventional browser may receive 2D graphic and textualcontent from many sources (e.g., different servers) and construct asingle display within a single window. Yet other conventional devicesare capable of receiving full 3D2 content from a single source. Forexample, such full 3D2 content may be downloaded from a server orretrieved from a removable or fixed storage. The single piece of 3D2content can have a first portion that is destined for the left eye of aviewer and a second portion that is destined for the right eye of theviewer. These portions represent perspectives (a.k.a. camera views) of acommon video event.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Methods, systems, and apparatuses are described for supportingpresentation of multi-path and multi-source viewing content as shown inand/or described herein in connection with at least one of the figures,as set forth more completely in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a partof the specification, illustrate the present invention and, togetherwith the description, further serve to explain the principles of theinvention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to makeand use the invention.

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an exemplary system that supportspresentation of portions of 3D content that are received from respectivesources in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an exemplary system that supportspresentation of multiple instances of content from respective sources inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an exemplary display system in accordancewith an embodiment that utilizes an adaptable parallax barrier tosupport multiple viewing configurations.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of an adaptable parallaxbarrier in accordance with an embodiment that supports a particularthree-dimensional viewing configuration.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of an adaptable parallaxbarrier in accordance with an alternate embodiment that supports aparticular three-dimensional viewing configuration.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of an adaptable parallaxbarrier in accordance with an embodiment that supports a viewingconfiguration that mixes two-dimensional and three-dimensional viewingregions.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary arrangement of an adaptable parallaxbarrier in accordance with an embodiment in which different orientationsof transparent and opaque slits are used to simultaneously supportdifferent viewer orientations.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart of an exemplary method for controlling apixel array to support a same viewing configuration as an adaptablelight manipulator in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart of an alternate exemplary method forcontrolling a pixel array to support a same viewing configuration as anadaptable light manipulator in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 8 illustrates a portion of a pixel array to which image pixels havebeen mapped to support a two-dimensional viewing configuration of anadaptable light manipulator in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 9 illustrates how image pixels are mapped to the portion of thepixel array shown in FIG. 8 to support a first three-dimensional viewingconfiguration of an adaptable light manipulator in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates how image pixels are mapped to the portion of thepixel array shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to support a second three-dimensionalviewing configuration of an adaptable light manipulator in accordancewith an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram of an exemplary display system that utilizesan adaptable parallax barrier and a light generator to support multipleviewing configurations in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 12 provides an exploded view of an exemplary display system thatutilizes a controllable backlight array to provide regional luminositycontrol in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram of an exemplary display system that includesa pixel array disposed between a light generator and an adaptableparallax barrier in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 14 provides an exploded view of an exemplary display system thatimplements a regional brightness control scheme based on pixel intensityin accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplary displaypanel of a display system in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 16 illustrates two exemplary configurations of an adaptable lightmanipulator that includes a parallax barrier and a brightness regulationoverlay in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of an exemplary adaptable lenticularlens that may be used in a displays system in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 18 shows a side view of the adaptable lenticular lens of FIG. 17 inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an exemplary display system that includesmultiple light manipulator layers in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an exemplary display system that includesmultiple light manipulator layers in accordance with an alternateembodiment.

FIGS. 21 and 22 are block diagrams of exemplary systems that supportpresentation of three-dimensional viewing content based on portionsthereof that are received from respective sources in accordance withembodiments.

FIGS. 23-29 depict flowcharts of methods for supporting presentation ofthree-dimensional viewing content based on portions thereof that arereceived from respective sources in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of an exemplary system that directsconfigurations of respective regions of a screen assembly to supportdisplay of respective instances of content in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 31 depicts a flowchart of a method for directing configurations ofrespective regions of a screen assembly for supporting display ofrespective instances of content in accordance with embodiments.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an exemplary practical implementation ofan adaptable two-dimensional/three-dimensional display system inaccordance with an embodiment.

The present invention will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-mostdigit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which thereference number first appears.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION I. Introduction

The present specification discloses one or more embodiments thatincorporate the features of the invention. The disclosed embodiment(s)merely exemplify the invention. The scope of the invention is notlimited to the disclosed embodiment(s). The invention is defined by theclaims appended hereto.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,”“an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment describedmay include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, butevery embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature,structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarilyreferring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature,structure, or characteristic is described in connection with anembodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of oneskilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristicin connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitlydescribed.

Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions (e.g.,“above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,”“vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.) used herein are for purposes ofillustration only, and that practical implementations of the structuresdescribed herein can be spatially arranged in any orientation or manner.

Embodiments described herein provide systems and methods for supportingpresentation of multi-path and multi-source viewing content. Forinstance, the viewing content may include multiple portions thatoriginate from respective sources and that are received via respectivepaths. Each of the portions may include two-dimensional (2D) content orthree-dimensional (3D) content. Two-dimensional (2D) content is contentthat is configured to be perceived as one or more two-dimensionalimages. For instance, the two-dimensional content may represent a singleperspective of a video event. Three-dimensional (3D) content is contentthat is configured to be perceived as one or more three-dimensionalimages. For example, the three-dimensional content may representmultiple perspectives of a video event.

The viewing content may be displayed to a user among any number (e.g.,1, 2, 3, etc.) of regions of a screen, such as a fixed 2D screen, afixed 3D screen, or an adaptable 3D screen. With respect to an adaptable3D screen, the viewing content may be displayed among the regions bydriving an adaptable light manipulator and/or a pixel array in acoordinated fashion. Some exemplary techniques for driving an adaptablelight manipulator and/or a pixel array in a coordinated fashion aredescribed in commonly-owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.______, filed on even date herewith and entitled “Coordinated Driving ofAdaptable Light Manipulator, Backlighting and Pixel Array in Support ofAdaptable 2D and 3D Displays,” the entirety of which is incorporated byreference herein.

The adaptable light manipulator may comprise, for example, an adaptablelenticular lens such as that described in commonly-owned, co-pendingU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/774,307, filed on May 5, 2010, andentitled “Display with Elastic Light Manipulator,” the entirety of whichis incorporated by reference herein, or an adaptable parallax barriersuch as that described in commonly-owned co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/845,440, filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and entitled“Adaptable Parallax Barrier Supporting Mixed 2D and Stereoscopic 3DDisplay Regions,” the entirety of which is incorporated by referenceherein. As described in those applications, the adaptable lightmanipulator can be dynamically modified in order to accommodate, forexample, a changing viewer sweet spot or switching betweentwo-dimensional images and three-dimensional images. As furtherdescribed in commonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/774,225, filed on May 5, 2010 and entitled “Controlling a Pixel Arrayto Support an Adaptable Light Manipulator,” the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein, the manner in which images arerendered to pixels of a pixel array used in conjunction with such anadaptable light manipulator may be coordinated with the state of theadaptable light manipulator to support a variety of viewingconfigurations.

Moreover, an adaptable light manipulator, a pixel array and anon-uniform light generator may be driven in a coordinated fashion. Asdescribed in the aforementioned, incorporated U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/845,440, in a case of where the adaptable light manipulatoris an adaptable parallax barrier, simultaneous presentation oftwo-dimensional and three-dimensional content (and/or various instancesof three-dimensional content representing differing numbers ofperspectives) via different regions of the same display is also enabled.This feature may be supported by a non-uniform light generator (such asa backlighting array) as described in commonly-owned, co-pending U.S.patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on even date herewith andentitled “Backlighting Array Supporting Adaptable Parallax Barrier”, theentirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

II. Exemplary Display Systems that Support Multiple ViewingConfigurations

FIG. 1A is a block diagram of an exemplary system 140 that supportspresentation of portions of 3D content that are received from respectivesources in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1A, system140 includes a media node 160, external sources 194A-194N, and externaldevice(s) 196. Each of the external device(s) 196 includes a fixed 2Dscreen 167, a fixed 3D screen 169, or an adaptable light manipulating2D/3Dx screen 171. Each fixed 2D screen 167 has a fixed two-dimensionalconfiguration. A two-dimensional configuration is used to display a 2Drepresentation of video content. Each fixed 3D screen 169 has a fixedthree-dimensional configuration. A three-dimensional configuration isused to display a 3D representation of video content. Athree-dimensional configuration may support presentation of any two ormore viewpoints (a.k.a. perspectives), two of which may be combined toprovide a three-dimensional viewing experience. For instance, athree-dimensional configuration that includes x viewpoints is said to bea 3Dx configuration, where x is a positive integer greater than or equalto two.

Each fixed 2D screen 167, fixed 3D screen 169, and adaptable lightmanipulating 2D/3Dx screen 171 is capable of supporting presentation of3D portions 161A-161N of 3D content in respective regions of a screensurface. Regions of each screen 167, 169, and 171 are configured tosupport presentation of the respective 3D portions 161A-161N in therespective regions of the screen surface. The configurations of thevarious regions of an adaptable light manipulating 2D/3Dx screen 171 maybe different or the same. Some examples of an adaptable lightmanipulating 2D/3Dx screen are described in detail below with referenceto FIGS. 1C and 2-20.

External sources 194A-194N are configured to provide the respective 3Dportions 161A-161N of the 3D content to media node 160. External sources194A-194N are also configured to provide respective offer contents163A-163N to media node 160. Each of the offer contents 163A-163Nincludes an offer that relates to at least one 3D portion of the 3Dcontent. For example, first external source 194A may provide a first 3Dportion 161A to media node 160. First external source 194A may alsoprovide first offer content 163A to media node 160 that relates to anNth 3D portion 161N. If the offer from first external source 194A isaccepted by a user, Nth external source 194N may provide the Nth 3Dportion 161N to media node 160. Nth external source 194N may alsoprovide Nth offer content 163N to media node 160 that relates to another3D portion that may be provided by another of the external sources194A-194N, and so on.

In another example, first external source 194A may provide the first 3Dportion 161A to media node 160. Upon determining that the first 3Dportion 161A is provided to media node 160, Nth external source 194N mayprovide Nth offer content 163N to media node 160 that relates to the Nth3D portion 161N. If the offer from Nth external source 194N is acceptedby the user, Nth external source 194N may provide the Nth 3D portion161N to media node 160. Upon determining that the Nth 3D portion 161N isprovided to media node 160, another of the external sources 194A-194Nmay provide its offer content to media node 160 that relates to arespective 3D portion of the 3D content, and so on.

External sources 194A-194N include circuitry 165A-165N for managingaccounts, billing, licenses, and transactions pertaining to the 3Dportions 161A-161N. For example, if first external source 194A providesfirst 3D portion 161A to media node 160, circuitry 165A may indicatethat the first 3D portion 161A has been provided to media node 160 in anaccount of the user of media node 160. Circuitry 165A may performoperations to bill the user for provision of the first 3D portion 161A,verify that the user is within a group that is authorized (e.g.,licensed) to receive the first 3D portion, etc.

Media node 160 includes processing circuitry 162, storage 176, a screenassembly 178, media source interface(s) circuitry 180, and screeninterface(s) circuitry 192. Media source interface(s) circuitry 180receives the 3D portions 161A-161N of the 3D content from the respectiveexternal sources 194A-194N for processing by processing circuitry 162.Storage 176 queues the 3D portions 161A-161N as needed so that theportions 161A-161N may be synchronized for presentation. Storage 176 mayinclude one or more internal sources that provide respective portions ofthe 3D content. For instance, an internal source may include fixed orremovable media storage from which one or more of the 3D portions161A-161N may be retrieved. Screen assembly 178 is configured to presentthe 3D content (e.g., simultaneously present the 3D portions 161A-161N)once the 3D portions 161A-161N are synchronized. Screen assembly 178 maybe a fixed 2D screen assembly, a fixed 3D screen assembly, or anadaptable light manipulating 2D/3Dx screen assembly.

Processing circuitry 162 includes circuitry 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, and174 and 3D portion(s) adjustments circuitry 182. Circuitry 164 selectsthe first 3D portion 161A of the 3D content from first external source194A. Circuitry 166 interacts with a second source (e.g., secondexternal source 194B) to locate a second portion and offer based on thefirst 3D portion 161A. Circuitry 168 supports billing and accountmanagement regarding the various 3D portions 161A-161N. For instance,circuitry 168 may communicate with any one or more of external sources194A-194N to facilitate proper billing and account updates regarding therespective 3D portions 161A-161N.

Circuitry 170 supports operations pertaining to acceptance or rejectionof each offer that is received by media node 160. For instance,circuitry 170 may inform external sources 194A-194N whether offers thatare received therefrom are accepted or rejected. Circuitry 172 initiatesdelivery of the second 3D portion from the second source in response tolocation of the second 3D portion by circuitry 166. Circuitry 174manages delivery of the 3D portions 161A-161N. For instance, circuitry174 may communicate with circuitry 172 to authorize initiation ofdelivery of the second portion by circuitry 172. Circuitry 174 alsosupports queuing of the 3D portions 161A-161N. For example, circuitry174 may determine an amount of storage 176 to be allocated for queuingof the 3D portions 161A-161N. In accordance with this example, circuitry174 may monitor an amount of storage 176 that is utilized to determinethe amount of storage 176 to be allocated.

3D portion(s) adjustments circuitry 182 performs operations on the 3Dportions 161A-161N to facilitate presentation of the 3D content. 3Dportion(s) adjustments circuitry 182 includes circuitry 184, 186, 188,and 190. Circuitry 184 is configured to decode and/or decrypt the 3Dportions 161A-161N that are received from respective external sources194A-194N, so that processing may be performed on the 3D portions161A-161N. For instance, such processing may be performed by circuitry186, 188, and/or 190, which are described below. Circuitry 184 is alsoconfigured to encrypt and/or encode the 3D content, including the 3Dportions 161A-161N, before the 3D content is delivered to externaldevice(s) 196.

Circuitry 186 synchronizes frames of the 3D portions 161A-161N. Forexample, circuitry 186 may apply time offsets to one or more of theportions 161A-161N and/or adjust the frame rates of one or more of the3D portions 161A-161N in order to facilitate synchronization of the 3Dportions 161A-161N. In accordance with this example, circuitry 186 mayincrease the frames rates of one or more of the 3D portions 161A-161N,decrease the frame rates of one or more of the 3D portions 161A-161N,increase the frame rates of some of the 3D portions 161A-161N whiledecreasing the frame rates of others of the 3D portions 161A-161N, etc.

Circuitry 188 is configured to integrate the 3D portions 161A-161N intoa single stream or file. Circuitry 190 is configured to resize theregions that are associated with the respective 3D portions 161A-161Nbased on any of a variety reasons, including but not limited tobandwidth limitations, user input, etc. Circuitry 190 may reduce thesize of region(s) that are associated with one or more (e.g., all) ofthe 3D portions 161A-161N, increase the size of region(s) that areassociated with one or more (e.g., all) of the 3D portions 161A-161N, orreduce the size of some regions which correspond to a first subset ofthe 3D portions 161A-161N while increasing the size of other regionswhich correspond to a second subset of the 3D portions 161A-161N.Circuitry 190 may reduce the resolution of one or more of the 3Dportions 161A-161N, increase the resolution of one or more of the 3Dportions 161A-161N, remove overlapping content from one or more of the3D portions 161A-161N, crop one or more of the 3D portions 161A-161N(e.g., to fit a screen characteristic such as 3:4, 9:16, or windowing),etc. For instance, circuitry 190 may perform such operations based onresizing of the corresponding regions.

Screen interface(s) circuitry 192 provides the 3D content, including the3D portions 161A-161N, to external device(s) 196 for presentation.Screen interface(s) circuitry 192 may provide the 3D portions 161A-161Nin any suitable number of streams. For instance, screen interface(s)circuitry 192 may provide the 3D portions 161A-161N in respectivestreams or in a single combined stream to external device(s) 196.

For purposes of illustration, assume that a first portion comprising adesired video presentation is selected from an internal or external“first” source. This first portion may yield the presentation in 2D, forexample, or 3D2. Either in response to a user's further search or “add”request (perhaps via a keypad or external remote control not shown, andat any time before or during the presentation of the first portion) orautomatically based on the initial selection of the first portion,processing circuitry 160 assists or carries out location of a secondportion of content related to the first portion. The internal orexternal location of the second portion is at a different source thanthat of the first portion.

An automatically identified second portion could be (but doesn't have tobe) offered for possible rejection by the viewer. If accepted or ifsettings do not require the viewer's confirmation, processing work maybe performed. For example, the second source portion may or may not havemany differing characteristics from that of the first portion.Processing circuitry 160 may need to operate on at least one if not bothof the portions to eliminate the differences. Processing circuitry 160may synchronize, as well. For example, the first portion may beone-third of the way into the presentation, and the second portion mayneed an offset and synchronization. The output of processing circuitry160 may be two independent files or streams or one combined stream. Suchoutput may need to feed one or more fixed 2D, fixed 3D, and adaptivelight manipulating internal or external screen assemblies. Processingcircuitry 160 needs to make all of these things happen when needed, orprovide support therefor. Other functionality of processing circuitry160 can be appreciated with reference to the labels in the FIG. 1A,including payment processing, licensing, etc.

FIG. 1B is a block diagram of an exemplary system 150 that supportspresentation of multiple instances of content from respective sources inaccordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1B, system 150 includesa media node 101, external sources 131A-131N, and external device(s)133. Each of the external device(s) 133 includes at least one adaptablelight manipulating 2D/3Dx assembly. Each of the adaptable lightmanipulating 2D/3Dx assemblies is configured to receive mediastreams/files outputs with integrated or separate screen configurationcommands (a.k.a. control signals). The screen commands specify how theregions of each adaptable light manipulating 2D/3Dx assembly is to beconfigured to support the presentation of the multiple instances ofcontent. Some embodiments that include such adaptable light manipulating2D/3Dx assemblies are discussed below with reference to FIGS. 1C and2-20.

External sources 131A-131N are configured to provide respective contents135A-135N to media node 101. The contents 135A-135N may be fullyindependent and unrelated, or fully or partially related. Externalsources 131A-131N are also configured to provide respective offercontents 137A-137N to media node 101. Each of the offer contents137A-137N includes an offer that relates to at least one of the contents135A-135N. For example, first external source 131A may provide firstcontent 135A to media node 101. First external source 131A may alsoprovide first offer content 137A to media node 101 that relates to Nthcontent 135N. If the offer from first external source 131A is acceptedby a user, Nth external source 131N may provide the Nth content 135N tomedia node 101. Nth external source 131N may also provide Nth offercontent 137N to media node 101 that relates to other content that may beprovided by another of the external sources 131A-131N, and so on.

In another example, first external source 131A may provide the firstcontent 135A to media node 101. Upon determining that the first content135A is provided to media node 101, Nth external source 131N may provideNth offer content 137N to media node 101 that relates to the Nth content135N. If the offer from Nth external source 131N is accepted by theuser, Nth external source 131N may provide the Nth content 135N to medianode 101. Upon determining that the Nth content 135N is provided tomedia node 101, another of the external sources 131A-131N may provideits offer content to media node 101 that relates to other content, andso on.

External sources 131A-131N include circuitry 139A-139N for managingaccounts, billing, licenses, and transactions pertaining to the contents135A-135N. For example, if first external source 131A provides firstcontent 135A to media node 101, circuitry 139A may indicate that thefirst content 135A has been provided to media node 101 in an account ofthe user of media node 101. Circuitry 139A may perform operations tobill the user for provision of the first content 135A, verify that theuser is within a group that is authorized (e.g., licensed) to receivethe first content, etc.

Media node 101 includes processing circuitry 103, storage 115, at leastone adaptable light manipulating 2D/3Dx screen assembly 117, mediasource interface(s) circuitry 119, and screen interface(s) circuitry129. Media source interface(s) circuitry 119 receives the contents135A-135N from the respective external sources 131A-131N for processingby processing circuitry 103. Storage 115 queues the contents 135A-135Nas needed so that the contents 135A-135N may be synchronized forpresentation. Storage 115 may include one or more internal sources, eachof which is capable of providing respective content. For instance, aninternal source may include fixed or removable media storage from whichone or more of the contents 135A-135N may be retrieved. The at least onescreen assembly 117 is configured to simultaneously present the contents135A-135N once the contents 135A-135N are synchronized.

Processing circuitry 103 includes circuitry 105, 107, 109, 111, and 113and content adjustments circuitry 121. Circuitry 105 provides softwareapplication (e.g., browser) based support for selection of the variouscontents 135A-135N. For instance, circuitry 105 may generate a graphicalinterface for enabling the viewer to select one or more of the contents135A-135N for presentation. Circuitry 107 supports billing and accountmanagement regarding the various contents 135A-135N. For instance,circuitry 107 may communicate with any one or more of external sources131A-131N to facilitate proper billing and account updates regarding therespective contents 135A-135N.

Circuitry 109 provides viewer interface support for enabling the viewerto accept or reject each offer that is received by media node 101. Forinstance, circuitry 109 may inform external sources 131A-131N whetheroffers that are received therefrom are accepted or rejected. Circuitry111 manages delivery of the contents 135A-135N. For instance, circuitry111 may delay delivery of the various contents 135A-135N until thecontents 135A-135N are synchronized. Circuitry 111 also supports queuingof the contents 135A-135N. For example, circuitry 111 may determine anamount of storage 115 to be allocated for queuing of the contents135A-135N. In accordance with this example, circuitry 111 may monitor anamount of storage 115 that is utilized to determine the amount ofstorage 115 to be allocated.

Circuitry 113 supports full and regional (re)configuration of adaptablelight manipulating 2D/3Dx screen assemblies. For instance, circuitry 113may provide screen (re)configuration commands for configuring an entireadaptable light manipulating 2D/3Dx screen assembly or one or moreregions thereof based on any of a factors, including but not limited tobandwidth limitations, user input, etc. In one example, such screen(re)configuration commands may be integrated into the one or morestreams/files that are delivered toward the screen assembly. In anotherexample, such screen (re)configuration commands may be sent externallyfrom the aforementioned one or more streams/files via separate commandsignaling using the same communication pathway or a separate pathwaythat is independent from the pathway that is used for delivering the oneor more streams/files.

Content adjustments circuitry 121 performs operations on the contents135A-135N to facilitate presentation thereof. Content adjustmentscircuitry 121 includes circuitry 123, 125, and 127. Circuitry 123 isconfigured to decode and/or decrypt the contents 135A-135N that arereceived from respective external sources 131A-131N, so that processingmay be performed on the contents 135A-135N. For instance, suchprocessing may be performed by circuitry 125 and/or 127, which aredescribed below. Circuitry 123 is also configured to encrypt and/orencode the contents 135A-135N before delivery thereof to externaldevice(s) 196.

Circuitry 125 supports outputting multiple streams or files or anintegrated stream or file. For example, circuitry 125 may synchronizeframes of the contents 135A-135N by applying time offsets to one or moreof the contents 135A-135N and/or by adjusting the frame rates of one ormore of the contents 135A-135N. In accordance with this example,circuitry 125 may increase the frames rates of one or more of thecontents 135A-135N, decrease the frame rates of one or more of thecontents 135A-135N, increase the frame rates of some of the contents135A-135N while decreasing the frame rates of others of the contents135A-135N, etc.

Circuitry 127 is configured to resize the regions that are associatedwith the contents 135A-135N based on any of a variety reasons, includingbut not limited to bandwidth limitations, user input, etc. Circuitry 127may reduce the size of region(s) that are associated with one or more ofthe contents 135A-135N, increase the size of region(s) that areassociated with one or more of the contents 135A-135N, or reduce thesize of some regions which correspond to a first subset of the contents135A-135N while increasing the size of other regions which correspond toa second subset of the contents 135A-135N. Circuitry 190 may reduce theresolution of one or more of the contents 135A-135N, increase theresolution of one or more of the contents 135A-135N, remove overlappingcontent from one or more of the contents 135A-135N, change (e.g.,increase or decrease) a frame rate that is associated with one or moreof the contents 135A-135N, crop one or more of the contents 135A-135N,etc. For instance, circuitry 127 may perform such operations based onresizing of the corresponding regions.

Screen interface(s) circuitry 129 provides the various contents135A-135N to external device(s) 133 for presentation. Screeninterface(s) circuitry 129 may provide the contents 135A-135N in anysuitable number of streams. For instance, screen interface(s) circuitry129 may provide the contents 135A-135N in respective streams or in asingle combined stream to external device(s) 133. Screen interface(s)circuitry 129 provides the screen configuration commands that specifyhow the regions of each adaptable light manipulating 2D/3Dx assembly ofthe external device(s) 133 is to be configured to support thepresentation of the multiple instances of content. The screenconfiguration commands may be integrated among the contents 135A-135N orseparate from the contents 135A-135N.

Although the circuitry and functionality illustrated with respect toFIGS. 1A and 1B may fall within one device housing (as illustrated), itmay also be distributed across or fully contained within many of suchmedia nodes. As such, the one or more media nodes may operateindependently or in concert to carry out the various aspects of theillustrated functionality. A media node can be any node in the entireend-to-end pathway, including even at one of the media sources (whichmight receive other content (e.g., the second content) from anothermedia source), within the screen assembly device, within a network node,in any premises device supporting a screen device such as a set top box,a removable media (e.g., DVD, CD or Blu-Ray) player, gateway, accesspoint, television, etc.

The remainder of this section describes some exemplary display systemsthat include display elements, such as an adaptable light manipulator, anon-uniform light generator, and a pixel array, to enable multipletwo-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) viewing configurations.A two-dimensional configuration is used to display a 2D representationof video content. A three-dimensional configuration is used to display a3D representation of video content. A three-dimensional configurationmay include any two or more viewpoints (a.k.a. perspectives), two ofwhich may be combined to provide a three-dimensional viewing experience.For instance, a three-dimensional configuration that includes nviewpoints is said to be a 3Dn configuration, where n is a positiveinteger greater than or equal to two. The configurations that are usedto display the different video contents or portions thereof may bedifferent or the same. Moreover, different video contents may be fullyunrelated or at least partially related. For example, first content maybe at least partially related to second content if the second content is2D or 3D content and the first content includes movie text (e.g., closedcaption text) that relates to the 2D or 3D content.

A. Example Display Systems Using Adaptable Parallax Barriers

FIG. 1C is a block diagram of an exemplary display system 100 thatutilizes an adaptable parallax barrier to support multiple viewingconfigurations in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1C,display system 100 includes driver circuitry 102 and a screen 104,wherein screen 104 include a pixel array 122 and an adaptable parallaxbarrier 124. As further shown in FIG. 1C, driver circuitry 104 includespixel array driver circuitry 112 and adaptable parallax barrier drivercircuitry 114.

Pixel array 122 comprises a two-dimensional array of pixels (e.g.,arranged as a grid or other distribution). Pixel array 122 is aself-illuminating or light-generating pixel array such that the pixelsof pixel array 122 each emit light included in light 132. Each pixel maybe a separately addressable light source (e.g., a pixel of a plasmadisplay, an LCD display, an LED display such as an OLED display, or ofother type of display). Each pixel of pixel array 122 may beindividually controllable to vary color and intensity. In an embodiment,each pixel of pixel array 122 may include a plurality of sub-pixels thatcorrespond to separate color channels, such as a trio of red, green, andblue sub-pixels included in each pixel.

Adaptable parallax barrier 124 is positioned proximate to a surface ofpixel array 122. Barrier element array 142 is a layer of adaptableparallax barrier 124 that includes a plurality of barrier elements orblocking regions arranged in an array. Each barrier element of the arrayis configured to be selectively opaque or transparent. Combinations ofbarrier elements may be configured to be selectively opaque ortransparent to enable various effects. For example, the states of thebarrier elements of barrier element array 142 may be configured suchthat light 132 emanating from pixel array 122 is filtered to producefiltered light 134, wherein filtered light 134 includes one or moretwo-dimensional and/or three-dimensional images that may be viewed byusers 136 in a viewing space 106.

Depending upon the implementation, each barrier element may have around, square, or rectangular shape, and barrier element array 142 mayhave any number of rows of barrier elements that extend a verticallength of barrier element array 142. In another embodiment, each barrierelement may have a “band” shape that extends a vertical length ofbarrier element array 142, such that barrier element array 142 includesa single horizontal row of barrier elements. Each barrier element mayinclude one or more of such bands, and different regions of barrierelement array 142 may include barrier elements that include differentnumbers of such bands.

It is noted that in some embodiments, barrier elements may be capable ofbeing completely transparent or opaque, and in other embodiments,barrier elements may not be capable of being fully transparent oropaque. For instance, such barrier elements may be capable of being 95%transparent when considered to be “transparent” and may be capable ofbeing 5% transparent when considered to be “opaque.” “Transparent” and“opaque” as used herein are intended to encompass barrier elements beingsubstantially transparent (e.g., greater than 75% transparent, includingcompletely transparent) and substantially opaque (e.g., less than 25%transparent, including completely opaque), respectively.

Driver circuitry 102 receives control signals 108 from control circuitry(not shown in FIG. 1C). For example, control signals 108 may be receivedvia a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processing circuitry162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B. The controlsignals 108 cause driver circuitry 102 to place screen 104 in a selectedone of a plurality of different viewing configurations. In particular,based on control signals 108, adaptable parallax barrier drivercircuitry 114 transmits drive signals 154 that cause barrier elementarray 142 to be placed in a state that supports the selected viewingconfiguration. The selected viewing configuration may be a particulartwo-dimensional viewing configuration, a particular three-dimensionalviewing configuration, or a viewing configuration that supports thedisplay of different types of two-dimensional and/or three-dimensionalcontent in corresponding display regions.

For example, FIG. 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of an adaptableparallax barrier 200 that supports a particular three-dimensionalviewing configuration. Adaptable parallax barrier 200 is an example ofadaptable parallax barrier 124 of FIG. 1C. As shown in FIG. 2, adaptableparallax barrier 200 includes a barrier element array 202, whichincludes a plurality of barrier elements 204 arranged in atwo-dimensional array. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 2, barrier elementarray 202 includes a plurality of parallel strips of barrier elements204 that are selected to be non-blocking to form a plurality of parallelnon-blocking strips (or “slits”) 206 a-206 g. As shown in FIG. 2,parallel non-blocking strips 206 a-206 g (non-blocking slits) arealternated with parallel blocking strips 208 a-208 g of barrier elements204 that are selected to be blocking. In the example of FIG. 2,non-blocking strips 206 a-206 g and blocking strips 208 a-208 g eachhave a width (along the x-dimension) of two barrier elements 204, andhave lengths that extend along the entire y-dimension (twenty barrierelements 204) of barrier element array 202, although in otherembodiments, may have alternative dimensions. Non-blocking strips 206a-206 g and blocking strips 208 a-208 g form a parallax barrierconfiguration for adaptable parallax barrier 200. The spacing (andnumber) of parallel non-blocking strips 206 in barrier element array 202may be selectable by choosing any number and combination of particularstrips of barrier elements 204 in barrier element array 202 to benon-blocking, to be alternated with blocking strips 208, as desired. Forexample, the spacing (and number) of parallel non-blocking strips 206 inbarrier element array 202 may be selected based on control signals thatare received via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B. It willbe recognized that hundreds, thousands, or even larger numbers ofnon-blocking strips 206 and blocking strips 208 may be present inadaptable parallax barrier 200.

FIG. 3 shows an alternative example of an adaptable parallax barrier 300that has also been configured to support a particular three-dimensionalviewing configuration. Similarly to adaptable parallax barrier 200 ofFIG. 2, adaptable parallax barrier 300 includes a barrier element array302, which includes a plurality of barrier elements 304 arranged in atwo-dimensional array (28×1 array). Barrier elements 304 have widths(along the x-dimension) similar to the widths of barrier elements 204 inFIG. 2, but have lengths that extend along the entire vertical length(y-dimension) of barrier element array 302. As shown in FIG. 3, barrierelement array 302 includes parallel non-blocking strips 306 a-306 galternated with parallel blocking strips 308 a-308 g. In the example ofFIG. 3, parallel non-blocking strips 306 a-306 g and parallel blockingstrips 308 a-308 g each have a width (along the x-dimension) of twobarrier elements 304, and have lengths that extend along the entirey-dimension (one barrier element 304) of barrier element array 302.Adaptable parallax barrier 300 may be configured in accordance withcontrol signals that are received via a pathway from processingcircuitry, such as processing circuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processingcircuitry 103 of FIG. 1B, for example.

Each of adaptable parallax barriers 200 and 300, configured in themanner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively, filter light produced by apixel array to form one or more three-dimensional views in a viewingspace, thus supporting a three-dimensional viewing configuration. Toachieve a two-dimensional viewing configuration, all of the barrierelements of either adaptable parallax barrier 200 or 300 can simply beplaced in a non-blocking state. Additional details concerning how theadaptable parallax barriers operate to support such three-dimensionalviewing may be found, for example, in the aforementioned, incorporatedU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,440, filed on Jul. 28, 2010, andentitled “Adaptable Parallax Barrier Supporting Mixed 2D andStereoscopic 3D Display Regions.”

In the adaptable parallax barrier configurations shown in FIGS. 2 and 3,the entirety of the barrier element array is filled with parallelnon-blocking strips to support three-dimensional viewing. In furtherembodiments, one or more regions of an adaptable parallax barrier may befilled with parallel non-blocking strips to deliver three-dimensionalimages, and one or more other regions of the adaptable parallax barriermay be rendered transparent to deliver two-dimensional images. Thus, aviewing configuration that mixes two-dimensional and three-dimensionalviewing regions may be supported.

For instance, FIG. 4 shows an exemplary arrangement of an adaptableparallax barrier 400 that supports a viewing configuration that mixestwo-dimensional and three-dimensional viewing regions according toexample embodiments. The arrangement of adaptable parallax barrier 400may be based on control signals that are received via a pathway fromprocessing circuitry, such as processing circuitry 162 of FIG. 1A orprocessing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B, for example. Adaptable parallaxbarrier 400 is similar to adaptable parallax barrier 200 of FIG. 2,having barrier element array 202 including a plurality of barrierelements 204 arranged in a two-dimensional array. In FIG. 4, a firstregion 402 of barrier element array 202 includes a plurality of parallelnon-blocking strips alternated with parallel blocking strips thattogether fill first region 402. A second region 404 of barrier elementarray 202 is surrounded by first region 402. Second region 404 is arectangular shaped region of barrier element array 202 that includes atwo-dimensional array of barrier elements 204 that are non-blocking.Thus, in FIG. 4, barrier element array 202 is configured to enable athree-dimensional image to be generated by pixels of a pixel array thatare adjacent to barrier elements of first region 402, and to enable atwo-dimensional image to be generated by pixels of the pixel array thatare adjacent to barrier elements inside of second region 404. Note thatalternatively, first region 402 may include all non-blocking barrierelements 202 to pass a two-dimensional image, and second region 404 mayinclude parallel non-blocking strips alternated with parallel blockingstrips to pass a three-dimensional image. In further embodiments,adaptable parallax barrier 400 may have additional numbers, sizes, andarrangements of regions configured to pass different combinations oftwo-dimensional images and three-dimensional images.

In still further embodiments, different regions of an adaptable parallaxbarrier that have parallel non-blocking strips may have the parallelnon-blocking strips oriented at different angles to deliverthree-dimensional images to viewers that are oriented differently. Thus,a viewing configuration that mixes three-dimensional viewing regionshaving different viewing orientations may be supported.

For example, FIG. 5 shows an exemplary arrangement of an adaptableparallax barrier 500 in which transparent slits have differentorientations, according to an example embodiment. The arrangement ofadaptable parallax barrier 500 may be based on control signals that arereceived via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B, forexample. Adaptable parallax barrier 500 is similar to adaptable parallaxbarrier 200 of FIG. 2, having barrier element array 202 including aplurality of barrier elements 204 arranged in a two-dimensional array. Afirst region 510 (e.g., a bottom half) of barrier element array 202includes a first plurality of parallel strips of barrier elements 204that are selected to be non-blocking to form a first plurality ofparallel non-blocking strips 502 a-502 e (each having a width of twobarrier elements 204). As shown in FIG. 5, parallel non-blocking strips502 a-502 e are alternated with parallel blocking strips 504 a-504 f ofbarrier elements 204 (each having a width of three barrier elements204). Parallel non-blocking strips 502 a-502 e are oriented in a firstdirection (e.g., along a vertical axis).

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a second region 512 (e.g., a top half)of barrier element array 202 includes a second plurality of parallelstrips of barrier elements 204 that are selected to be non-blocking toform a second plurality of parallel non-blocking strips 506 a-506 d(each having a width of one barrier element 204). As shown in FIG. 5,parallel non-blocking strips 506 a-506 d are alternated with parallelblocking strips 508 a-508 c of barrier elements 204 (each having a widthof two barrier elements 204). Parallel non-blocking strips 506 a-506 dare oriented in a second direction (e.g., along a horizontal axis).

As such, in FIG. 5, first and second pluralities of parallelnon-blocking strips 502 a-502 e and 506 a-506 d are present in barrierelement array 202 that are oriented perpendicularly to each other. Theregion of barrier element array 202 that includes first plurality ofparallel non-blocking strips 502 a-502 e may be configured to deliver athree-dimensional image in a viewing space to be viewable by a userwhose body is oriented vertically (e.g., sitting upright or standingup). The region of barrier element array 202 that includes secondplurality of parallel non-blocking strips 506 a-506 d may be configuredto deliver a three-dimensional image in a viewing space to be viewableby a user whose body is oriented horizontally (e.g., laying down). Inthis manner, users who are oriented differently relative to each othercan still each be provided with a corresponding three-dimensional imagethat accommodates their position.

The foregoing adaptable parallax barriers and arrangements thereof havebeen described herein by way of example only. Additional adaptableparallax barriers and arrangements thereof may be used to supportadditional viewing configurations. For example, additional adaptableparallax barrier implementations and arrangements thereof are describedin the aforementioned, incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/845,440 filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and entitled “Adaptable ParallaxBarrier Supporting Mixed 2D and Stereoscopic 3D Display Regions,” and incommonly-owned, co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/845,461,filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and entitled “Display Supporting MultipleSimultaneous 3D Views,” the entirety of which is incorporated byreference herein.

Returning now to the description of display system 100 of FIG. 1C, sincea configuration of adaptable parallax barrier 124 can be dynamicallymodified to support a particular viewing configuration, pixel array 122must also be controlled to support the same viewing configuration. Inparticular, the rendering of pixels of an image (also referred to hereinas “image pixels”) among the pixels of pixel array 122 (also referred toherein as “display pixels”) must be handled in a manner that isconsistent with a current configuration of adaptable parallax barrier124. This may entail, for example, changing a number of display pixelsthat represents each image pixel (i.e., changing the resolution of adisplayed image) and/or changing which display pixels or groups thereofcorrespond to the respective image pixels (i.e., changing the locationsat which the image pixels are displayed), in response to modification ofa configuration of adaptable parallax barrier 124. Such changes may beimplemented by a controller (not shown in FIG. 1C) via delivery ofappropriate control signals 108 to pixel array driver circuitry 112.

For example, in one embodiment, when a configuration of adaptableparallax barrier 124 supports a first viewing configuration responsiveto control signals 108, pixel array driver circuitry 204 sends drivesignals 152 in conformance with control signals 108 such that therendering of images to pixel array 122 occurs in a manner that alsosupports the first viewing configuration. Furthermore, when theconfiguration of adaptable parallax barrier 124 is modified to support asecond viewing configuration responsive to control signals 108, pixelarray driver circuitry 204 sends drive signals 152 in conformance withthe control signals 108 such that the rendering of images to pixel array122 occurs in a manner that also supports the second viewingconfiguration.

FIG. 6 depicts a flowchart 600 of an exemplary method for controlling apixel array to support the same viewing configuration as an adaptablelight manipulator (such as adaptable parallax barrier 124) in accordancewith an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the method of flowchart 600begins at step 602. During step 602, a configuration of an adaptablelight manipulator, such as adaptable parallax barrier 124, is modified.At step 604, a number of display pixels in a pixel array, such as pixelarray 122, that represents each image pixel of a plurality of imagepixels is changed in response to modifying the configuration of theadaptable light manipulator.

FIGS. 8 and 9 provide a simple illustration of an exemplary applicationof the method of flowchart 600. As shown in FIG. 8, a portion of a pixelarray 800 includes a 16×16 array of display pixels. An example displaypixel is shown as display pixel 802. In one embodiment, each displaypixel comprises a trio of red, green, and blue sub-pixels as discussedabove. A first image comprising a 4×4 array of image pixels (each showndepicting the letter “A” to indicate that each is included in the sameimage) is mapped to the display pixels such that 4 display pixels areused to present each image pixel. An example of an image pixel is shownas image pixel 804. In FIG. 8, the first image is intended to representan image that is viewed when an adaptable light manipulator disposedproximate to the pixel array is configured to support a two-dimensionalviewing configuration.

FIG. 9 is intended to represent the same portion of pixel array 800after the configuration of the adaptable light manipulator has beenchanged to support a three-dimensional viewing configuration. Thethree-dimensional viewing configuration requires the combined display ofa first image and a second image across the same portion of pixel array800. This means that the first image must be represented with only halfthe display pixels. To achieve this, the pixel array is controlled suchthat 2 rather than 4 display pixels are used to present each image pixelof the first image (each still shown depicting the letter “A”). Thiscorresponds to a decreased viewing resolution of the first image. Theother half of the display pixels are now used to present each imagepixel of a second image (each shown depicting the letter “B”). The imagepixels associated with the different images are aligned with theadaptable light manipulator to achieve a desired three-dimensionalviewing effect.

FIG. 7 depicts a flowchart 700 of another exemplary method forcontrolling a pixel array to support the same viewing configuration asan adaptable light manipulator (such as adaptable parallax barrier 124)in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the method offlowchart 700 begins at step 702. During step 702, a plurality of imagepixels is mapped to a plurality of respective first subsets of displaypixels in a pixel array, such as pixel array 122. At step 704, aconfiguration of an adaptable light manipulator that is positionedproximate to the pixel array is changed. For example, in an embodimentin which the adaptable light manipulator includes adaptable parallaxbarrier 124, a slit pattern, orientation, or the like, of adaptableparallax barrier 124 may be changed. At step 706, a mapping of theplurality of image pixels is changed from the plurality of respectivefirst subsets of the display pixels to a plurality of respective secondsubsets of the display pixels in the pixel array to compensate forchanging the configuration of the adaptable light manipulator.

FIGS. 9 and 10 provide a simple illustration of an exemplary applicationof the method of flowchart 700. As shown in FIG. 9, a portion of a pixelarray 800 is used to simultaneously display a first image comprisingimage pixels shown depicting the letter “A” and a second imagecomprising image pixels shown depicting the letter “B.” As noted above,this display format is utilized to support a three-dimensional viewingconfiguration corresponding to a particular arrangement of an adaptablelight manipulator disposed proximate to the pixel array. FIG. 10 isintended to represent the same portion of pixel array 800 after theconfiguration of the adaptable light manipulator has been changed tosupport a modified three-dimensional viewing configuration (e.g., inresponse to a changed location of a viewer or some other factor). Themodified three-dimensional viewing configuration requires the displaylocation of the first image and the second image to be shifted, as shownin FIG. 10. Thus, for example, rather than rendering image pixel 904 tothe bottom-most two display pixels in the far-left column of arrayportion 800, the same image pixel 904 is now rendered to the bottom-mosttwo display pixels in the second column from the left of array portion800.

Numerous other methods may be used to control the rendering of imagepixels to display pixels in support of a desired two-dimensional and/orthree-dimensional viewing configuration implemented by an adaptableparallax barrier or other adaptable light manipulator. Additionaldetails concerning such control of a pixel array may be found in theaforementioned, incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/774,225, filed on May 5, 2010, and entitled “Controlling a PixelArray to Support an Adaptable Light Manipulator.”

FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of an exemplary display system 1100, whichis another example of a display system that utilizes an adaptableparallax barrier to support multiple viewing configurations. As shown inFIG. 11, display system 1100 includes driver circuitry 1102 and a screen1104, wherein screen 1104 include a light generator 1122, an adaptableparallax barrier 1124 and a pixel array 1126. As further shown in FIG.11, driver circuitry 1102 includes light generator driver circuitry1112, adaptable parallax barrier driver circuitry 1114 and pixel arraydriver circuitry 1116.

Light generator 1122 emits light 1132. Adaptable parallax barrier 1124is positioned proximate to light generator 1122. Barrier element array1144 is a layer of adaptable parallax barrier 1124 that includes aplurality of barrier elements or blocking regions arranged in an array.Each barrier element of the array is configured to be selectively opaqueor transparent. Barrier element array 1144 filters light 1132 receivedfrom light generator 1122 to generate filtered light 1134. Filteredlight 1134 is configured to enable a two-dimensional image or athree-dimensional image (e.g., formed by a pair of two-dimensionalimages in filtered light 1134) to be formed based on images subsequentlyimposed on filtered light 1134 by pixel array 1126.

Pixel array 1126 includes a two-dimensional array of pixels (e.g.,arranged in a grid or other distribution) like pixel array 122 of FIG.1C. However, pixel array 1126 is not self-illuminating, and instead is alight filter that imposes images (e.g., in the form of color, grayscale,etc.) on filtered light 1134 from adaptable parallax barrier 1124 togenerate filtered light 1136 to include one or more images. Each pixelof pixel array 1126 may be a separately addressable filter (e.g., apixel of a plasma display, an LCD display, an LED display, or of othertype of display). Each pixel of pixel array 1126 may be individuallycontrollable to vary the color imposed on the corresponding lightpassing through, and/or to vary the intensity of the passed light infiltered light 1136. In an embodiment, each pixel of pixel array 1126may include a plurality of sub-pixels that correspond to separate colorchannels, such as a trio of red, green, and blue sub-pixels included ineach pixel.

Driver circuitry 1102 receives control signals 1108 from controlcircuitry (not shown in FIG. 11). For example, control signals 1108 maybe received via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B. Thecontrol signals 1108 cause driver circuitry 1102 to place screen 1104 ina selected one of a plurality of different viewing configurations. Inparticular, based on control signals 1108, adaptable parallax barrierdriver circuitry 1114 transmits drive signals 1154 that cause barrierelement array 1144 to be placed in a state that supports the selectedviewing configuration. Likewise, based on control signals 1108, pixelarray driver circuitry 1116 transmits drive signals 1156 to cause pixelsof one or more images (also referred to herein as “image pixels”) to berendered among the pixels of pixel array 1126 (also referred to hereinas “display pixels”) in a manner that is consistent with a currentconfiguration of adaptable parallax barrier 1124. The selected viewingconfiguration may be a particular two-dimensional viewing configuration,a particular three-dimensional viewing configuration, or a viewingconfiguration that supports the display of different types oftwo-dimensional and/or three-dimensional content in different displayregions.

As discussed in the aforementioned, incorporated U.S. patent applicationSer. No. ______, filed on even date herewith and entitled “BacklightingArray Supporting Adaptable Parallax Barrier,” conventional LCD displaystypically include a backlight and a display panel that includes an arrayof LCD pixels. The backlight is designed to produce a sheet of light ofuniform luminosity for illuminating the LCD pixels. When simultaneouslydisplaying two-dimensional, three-dimensional and multi-viewthree-dimensional regions using an adaptable parallax barrier such asthat described in the aforementioned, incorporated U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/845,440, filed on Jul. 28, 2010, and entitled“Adaptable Parallax Barrier Supporting Mixed 2D and Stereoscopic 3DDisplay Regions,” the use of a conventional backlight will result in adisparity in perceived brightness between the differentsimultaneously-displayed regions. This is because the number of visiblepixels per unit area associated with a two-dimensional region willgenerally exceed the number of visible pixels per unit area associatedwith a particular three-dimensional or multi-view three-dimensionalregion (in which the pixels must be partitioned among differenteyes/views).

To address this issue, light generator 1122 includes a backlight array1142 which is a two-dimensional array of light sources. Such lightsources may be arranged, for example, in a rectangular grid. Each lightsource in backlight array 1142 is individually addressable andcontrollable to select an amount of light emitted thereby. A singlelight source may comprise one or more light-emitting elements dependingupon the implementation. In one embodiment, each light source inbacklight array 1142 comprises a single light-emitting diode (LED)although this example is not intended to be limiting.

The amount of light emitted by the individual light sources that make upbacklight array 1142 can selectively controlled by drive signals 1152generated by light generator driver circuitry 1112 so that thebrightness associated with each of a plurality of display regions ofscreen 1104 can also be controlled. This enables display system 1100 toprovide a desired brightness level for each display region automaticallyand/or in response to user input. For example, backlight array 1142 canbe controlled such that a uniform level of brightness is achieved acrossdifferent simultaneously-displayed display regions, even though thenumber of perceptible pixels per unit area varies from display region todisplay region. As another example, backlight array 1142 can becontrolled such that the level of brightness associated with aparticular display region is increased or reduced without impacting (orwithout substantially impacting) the brightness of othersimultaneously-displayed display regions.

To help illustrate this, FIG. 12 provides an exploded view of anexemplary display system 1200 that implements a controllable backlightarray as described immediately above. Display system 1200 comprises oneimplementation of display system 1100. As shown in FIG. 12, displaysystem 1200 includes a light generator 1202 that includes a backlightarray 1212, an adaptable parallax barrier 1204 that includes a barrierelement array 1222 and a display panel 1206 that includes a pixel array1232. These elements may be aligned with and positioned proximate toeach other to create an integrated display screen.

In accordance with the example configuration shown in FIG. 12, a firstportion 1234 of pixel array 1232 and a first portion 1224 of barrierelement array 1222 have been manipulated to create a first displayregion that displays multi-view three-dimensional content, a secondportion 1236 of pixel array 1232 and a second portion 1226 of barrierelement array 1222 have been manipulated to create a second displayregion that displays a three-dimensional image, and a third portion of1238 of pixel array 1232 and a third portion 1228 of barrier elementarray 1222 have been manipulated to create a third display region thatdisplays a two-dimensional image. To independently control thebrightness of each of the first, second and third display regions, theamount of light emitted by light sources included within a first portion1214, a second portion 1216 and a third portion 1218 of backlight array1212 can respectively be controlled. For example, the light sourceswithin first portion 1214 may be controlled to provide greaterluminosity than the light sources within second portion 1216 and thirdportion 1218 as the number of perceivable pixels per unit area will besmallest in the first display region with which first portion 1214 isaligned. In further accordance with this example, the light sourceswithin second portion 1216 may be controlled to provide greaterluminosity than the light sources within third portion 1218 since thenumber of perceivable pixels per unit area will be smaller in the seconddisplay region with which second portion 1216 is aligned than the thirddisplay region with which third portion 1218 is aligned. Of course, ifuniform luminosity is not desired across the various display regionsthen other control schemes may be used.

Of course, the arrangement shown in FIG. 12 provides only a singleteaching example. It should be noted that a display system in accordancewith an embodiment can dynamically manipulate pixel array 1232 andbarrier element array 1222 in a coordinated fashion to dynamically andsimultaneously create any number of display regions of different sizesand in different locations, wherein each of the created display regionscan display one of two-dimensional, three-dimensional or multi-viewthree-dimensional content. To accommodate this, backlight array 1212 canalso be dynamically manipulated in a coordinated fashion with pixelarray 1232 and barrier element array 1222 to ensure that each displayregion is perceived at a desired level of brightness.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 12, there is a one-to-onecorrespondence between each light source in backlight array 1212 andevery display pixel in pixel array 1232. However, this need not be thecase to achieve regional brightness control. For example, in certainembodiments, the number of light sources provided in backlight array1212 is less than the number of pixels provided in pixel array 1232. Forinstance, in one embodiment, a single light source may be provided inbacklight array 1212 for every N pixels provided in pixel array 1232,wherein N is an integer greater than 1. In an embodiment in which thenumber of light sources in backlight array 1212 is less than the numberof pixels in pixel array 1232, each light source may be arranged so thatit provides backlighting for a particular group of pixels in pixel array1232, although this is only an example. In alternate embodiments, thenumber of light sources provided in backlight array 1212 is greater thanthe number of pixels provided in pixel array 1232.

Also, in the examples described above, light sources in backlight array1212 are described as being individually controllable. However, inalternate embodiments, light sources in backlight array 1212 may only becontrollable in groups. This may facilitate a reduction in thecomplexity of the control infrastructure associated with backlight array1212. In still further embodiments, light sources in backlight array1212 may be controllable both individually and in groups. It will berecognized that light generator 1202, adaptable parallax barrier 1204,and display panel 1206 may be controlled based on control signals thatare received via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B.

It is also noted that although FIGS. 11 and 12 show display systemconfigurations in which a barrier element array of an adaptable parallaxbarrier is disposed between a backlight array of individuallyaddressable and controllable light sources and a pixel array, inalternate implementations the pixel array may be disposed between thebacklight array and the barrier element array. Such an alternateimplementation is shown in FIG. 13. In particular, FIG. 13 is a blockdiagram of an exemplary display system 1300 that includes a pixel array1324 disposed between a light generator 1322 that includes a backlightarray 1342 and an adaptable parallax barrier 1326 that includes abarrier element array 1344 to support the generation of two-dimensionaland/or three-dimensional images perceivable in a viewing space 1306. Insuch alternate implementations, selective control of the luminosity ofgroups or individual ones of the light sources in backlight array 1342may also be used to vary the backlighting luminosity associated withdifferent display regions created by the interaction of backlight array1342, pixel array 1324 and barrier element array 1344. For example,light generator 1322. pixel array 1324, and/or adaptable parallaxbarrier 1326 may be controlled based on control signals that arereceived via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B.

Other example display system implementations that utilize a backlightarray of independently-controllable light sources are described in theaforementioned, incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,filed on even date herewith and entitled “Backlighting Array SupportingAdaptable Parallax Barrier.” That application also describes otherapproaches for controlling the brightness of differentsimultaneously-displayed display regions of a display system. Some ofthese approaches will be described below.

For example, to achieve independent region-by-region brightness controlin a display system that includes a conventional backlight paneldesigned to produce a sheet of light of uniform luminosity, the amountof light passed by the individual pixels that make up a pixel array canbe selectively controlled so that the brightness associated with each ofa plurality of display regions can also be controlled. To helpillustrate this, FIG. 14 provides an exploded view of an exemplarydisplay system 1400 that implements a regional brightness control schemebased on pixel intensity as described immediately above. The regionalbrightness control scheme may be implemented based on control signalsthat are received via a pathway from processing circuitry, such asprocessing circuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG.1B, for example. As shown in FIG. 14, display system 1400 includes adisplay panel 1402 and an adaptable parallax barrier 1404. Displaysystem 1400 also includes a backlight panel, although this element isnot shown in FIG. 14. These elements may be aligned with and positionedproximate to each other to create an integrated display screen.

As further shown in FIG. 14, display panel 1402 includes a pixel array1412. Each of the pixels in a first portion 1414 of pixel array 1412 isindividually controlled by pixel array driver circuitry to pass aselected amount of light produced by a backlight panel (not shown inFIG. 14), thereby producing display-generated light representative of asingle two-dimensional image. Each of the pixels in a second portion1416 of pixel array 1412 is individually controlled by the pixel arraydriver circuitry to pass a selected amount of light produced by thebacklight panel, thereby producing display-generated lightrepresentative of two two-dimensional images that, when combined by thebrain of a viewer positioned in an appropriate location relative todisplay system 1400, will be perceived as a single three-dimensionalimage.

Adaptable parallax barrier 1404 includes barrier element array 1422 thatincludes a first portion 1424 and a second portion 1426. Barrier elementarray 1422 is aligned with pixel array 1414 such that first portion 1424of blocking region array 1422 overlays first portion 1414 of pixel array1412 and second portion 1426 of blocking region array 1422 overlayssecond portion 1416 of pixel array 1412. Adaptable parallax barrierdriver circuitry causes all the barrier elements within first portion1424 of barrier element array 1422 to be transparent. Thus, thetwo-dimensional image generated by the pixels of first portion 1414 ofpixel array 1412 will simply be passed through to a viewer in a viewingspace in front of display system 1400. Furthermore, the adaptableparallax barrier driver circuitry manipulates the barrier elementswithin second portion 1426 of blocking region array 1422 to form aplurality of parallel transparent strips alternated with parallel opaquestrips, thereby creating a parallax effect that enables the twotwo-dimensional images generated by the pixels of second portion 1416 ofpixel array 1412 to be perceived as a three-dimensional image by aviewer in the viewing space in front of display system 1400.

Assume that a viewer is positioned such that he/she can perceive boththe two-dimensional image passed by first portion 1424 of barrierelement array 1422 and the three-dimensional image formed throughparallax by second portion 1426 of barrier element 1422. As discussedabove, the pixels per unit area perceived by this viewer with respect tothe two-dimensional image will be greater than the pixels per unit areaperceived by this viewer with respect to the three-dimensional image.Thus, the two-dimensional image will appear brighter to the viewer thanthe three dimensional image when backlighting of constant luminosity isprovided behind pixel array 1412.

To address this issue, drive signals may be transmitted to display panel1402 that selectively cause the pixels included in first portion 1414 ofpixel array 1412 to pass less light from the backlight panel (i.e.,become less intense), thereby reducing the brightness of thetwo-dimensional image produced from the pixels in first portion 1414 ofpixel array 1412. Alternatively or additionally, drive signals may betransmitted to display panel 1402 that selectively cause the pixelsincluded in second portion 1416 of pixel array 1412 to pass more lightfrom the backlight panel (i.e., become more intense), thereby increasingthe brightness of the three-dimensional image produced from the pixelsin second portion 1416 of pixel array 1412. By controlling the intensityof the pixels in portions 1414 and 1416 of pixel array 1412 in thismanner, the brightness of the two-dimensional image produced from thepixels in first portion 1414 of pixel array 1412 and the brightness ofthe three-dimensional image produced from the pixels in second portion1416 of pixel array 1412 can be kept consistent. Additionally, byproviding independent control over the intensity of the pixels inportions 1414 and 1416 of pixel array 1412, independent control over thebrightness of the two-dimensional and three-dimensional images generatedtherefrom can also be achieved.

Of course, the arrangement shown in FIG. 14 provides only a singleteaching example. It should be noted that a display system in accordancewith an embodiment can dynamically manipulate pixel array 1412 andblocking element array 1422 in a coordinated fashion to dynamically andsimultaneously create any number of display regions of different sizesand in different locations, wherein each of the created display regionscan display one of two-dimensional, three-dimensional or multi-viewthree-dimensional content. To accommodate this, the intensity of thepixels in pixel array 1412 can also be dynamically manipulated in acoordinated fashion to ensure that each display region is perceived at adesired level of brightness.

In one embodiment, a regional brightness control scheme combines the useof a backlight array of independently-controllable light sources aspreviously described with regional pixel intensity control. Theadvantages of such a control scheme will now be described with referenceto FIG. 15. FIG. 15 illustrates a front perspective view of an exemplarydisplay panel 1500. Display panel 1500 includes a pixel array 1502 thatincludes a first portion 1504 and a second portion 1506, wherein each offirst portion 1504 and second portion 1506 includes a different subsetof the pixels in pixel array 1502. It is to be assumed that firstportion 1504 of pixel array 1502 is illuminated by backlighting providedby an aligned first portion of a backlight array (not shown in FIG. 15),wherein the backlight array is similar to backlight array 1142 describedabove in reference to FIG. 11. Second portion 1506 of pixel array 1502is illuminated by backlighting provided by an aligned second portion ofthe backlight array. In one example, the amount of light emitted by eachlight source in the second portion of the backlight array to illuminatesecond portion 1506 of pixel array 1502 is controlled such that it isgreater than the amount of light emitted by each light source in thefirst portion of the backlight array to illuminate first portion 1504 ofpixel array 1502. This control scheme may be applied, for example, tocause a three-dimensional image formed by interaction between the pixelsin second portion 1506 of pixel array 1502 and an adaptable parallaxbarrier to appear to have a uniform brightness level with respect to atwo-dimensional image formed by interaction between the pixels in firstportion 1504 of pixel array 1504 and the adaptable parallax barrier.

However, the difference in the amount of light emitted by each lightsource in the first and second portions of the backlight array toilluminate corresponding first and second portions 1504 and 1506 ofpixel array 1502 may also give rise to undesired visual artifacts. Inparticular, the difference may cause pixels in boundary areasimmediately outside of second portion 1506 of pixel array 1502 to appearbrighter than desired in relation to other pixels in first portion 1504of pixel array 1502. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the pixels inboundary area 1512 immediately outside of second portion 1506 of pixelarray 1502 may appear brighter than desired in relation to other pixelsin first portion 1504 of pixel array 1502. This may be due to the factthat the increased luminosity provided by the light sources in thesecond portion of the backlight array has “spilled over” to impact thepixels in boundary area 1512, causing those pixels to be brighter thandesired. Conversely, the difference may cause pixels in boundary areasimmediately inside of second portion 1506 of pixel array 1502 to appeardimmer than desired in relation to other pixels in second portion 1506of pixel array 1502. For example, as shown in FIG. 15, the pixels inboundary area 1514 immediately inside of second portion 1506 of pixelarray 1502 may appear dimmer than desired in relation to other pixels insecond portion 1506 of pixel array 1502. This may be due to the factthat the reduced luminosity of the light sources in the first portion ofthe backlight array has “spilled over” to impact the pixels in boundaryarea 1514, causing those pixels to be dimmer than desired.

To address this issue, an embodiment may selectively control the amountof light passed by the pixels located in boundary region 1512 orboundary region 1514 to compensate for the undesired visual effects. Forexample, driver circuitry associated with pixel array 1502 mayselectively cause the pixels included in boundary area 1512 of pixelarray 1502 to pass less light from the backlight panel (i.e., becomeless intense), thereby reducing the brightness of the pixels in boundaryarea 1512, thus compensating for an undesired increase in brightness dueto “spill over” from light sources in the second portion of thebacklight array. Alternatively or additionally, driver circuitryassociated with pixel array 1502 may selectively cause the pixelsincluded in boundary area 1514 of pixel array 1502 to pass more lightfrom the backlight panel (i.e., become more intense), thereby increasingthe brightness of the pixels in boundary area 1514, thus compensatingfor an undesired reduction in brightness due to “spill over” from lightsources in the first portion of the backlight array. By controlling theintensity of the pixels in boundary areas 1512 and 1514 in this manner,the undesired visual effects described above that can arise from the useof a backlight array to provide regional brightness control can bemitigated or avoided entirely.

The illustration provided in FIG. 15 provides only one example ofundesired visual effects that can arise from the use of a backlightarray to provide regional brightness control. Persons skilled in therelevant art(s) will appreciate that many different display regionshaving many different brightness characteristics can be simultaneouslygenerated by a display system in accordance with embodiments, therebygiving rise to different undesired visual effects relating to thebrightness of boundary areas inside and outside of the different displayregions. In each case, the intensity of pixels located in suchboundaries areas can be selectively increased or reduced to mitigate oravoid such undesired visual effects.

In additional embodiments, a regional brightness control scheme isimplemented in a display system that does not include a backlight panelat all, but instead utilizes a display panel comprising an array oforganic light emitting diodes (OLEDs) or polymer light emitting diodes(PLEDs) which function as display pixels and also provide their ownillumination. Display system 100 described above in reference to FIG. 1Cmay be representative of such a system, provided that pixel array 122comprises an array of OLEDs or PLEDs. In accordance with such animplementation, the amount of light emitted by the individual OLED/PLEDpixels that make up the OLED/PLED pixel array can be selectivelycontrolled so that the brightness associated with each of a plurality ofdisplay regions of display system 100 can also be controlled. Thisenables display system 100 to provide a desired brightness level foreach display region automatically and/or in response to user input. Forexample, the OLED/PLED pixel array can be controlled such that a uniformlevel of brightness is achieved across differentsimultaneously-displayed display regions, even though the number ofperceptible pixels per unit area varies from display region to displayregion. As another example, the OLED/PLED pixel array can be controlledsuch that the level of brightness associated with a particular displayregion is increased or reduced without impacting (or withoutsubstantially impacting) the brightness of othersimultaneously-displayed display regions.

Where OLED/PLED pixel regions such as those described above are adjacentto each other, it is possible that the brightness characteristics of onepixel region can impact the perceived brightness of an adjacent pixelregion having different brightness characteristics, creating anundesired visual effect. For example, a first OLED/PLED pixel regionhaving a relatively high level of brightness to support the viewing ofmulti-view three-dimensional content may be adjacent to a secondOLED/PLED pixel region having a relatively low level of brightness tosupport the viewing of two-dimensional content. In this scenario, lightfrom pixels in a perimeter area of the first OLED/PLED pixel region thatare close to the boundary between the two pixel regions may “spill over”into a perimeter area of the second OLED/PLED pixel region. This maycause pixels in the perimeter area of the second OLED/PLED pixel regionto appear brighter than desired in relation to other pixels in thesecond OLED/PLED pixel region. Conversely, pixels in the perimeter areaof the first OLED/PLED pixel array may appear dimmer than desired inrelation to other pixels in the first OLED/PLED pixel region because ofthe adjacency to the second OLED/PLED pixel region. To address thisissue, it is possible to selectively increase or reduce the brightnessof one or more OLED/PLED pixels in either perimeter area to reduce the“spill over” effect arising from the different brightnesscharacteristics between the regions.

In still further embodiments, a regional brightness control scheme isimplemented in a display system that includes an adaptable parallaxbarrier that also supports brightness regulation via an “overlay”approach. Such an approach involves the use of a brightness regulationoverlay that is either independent of or integrated with an adaptableparallax barrier. The brightness regulation overlay is used to helpachieve the aforementioned goals of maintaining standard brightnessacross various regional screen configurations and compensating for orminimizing backlighting dispersion.

The brightness regulation overlay comprises an element that allowsregional dimming through various tones of “grey” pixels. In one exampleembodiment, an adaptable parallax barrier and the brightness regulationoverlay are implemented as a non-color (i.e., black, white andgrayscale) LCD sandwich, although other implementations may be used. Thecombined adaptable parallax barrier and brightness regulation overlayprovide full transparent or opaque states for each pixel, as well as agrayscale alternative that can be used to “balance out” brightnessvariations caused by the parallax barrier itself.

Control over the individual barrier elements of the parallax barrier andthe individual grayscale pixels of the brightness regulation overlay maybe provided by using coordinated driver circuitry signaling. Suchcoordinate signaling may cause the pixels of the adaptable parallaxbarrier and the brightness regulation overlay (collectively referred tobelow as the manipulator pixels) to create opaque and transparentbarrier elements associated with a particular parallax barrierconfiguration and a grayscale support there between to allow creation ofoverlays. The regional brightness control scheme described above withreference to FIG. 15, which may include such coordinated signaling, maybe implemented based on control signals that are received via a pathwayfrom processing circuitry, such as processing circuitry 162 of FIG. 1Aor processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B, for example.

FIG. 16 illustrates two exemplary configurations of an adaptable lightmanipulator 1600 that includes an adaptable parallax barrier and abrightness regulation overlay implemented as a light manipulating LCDsandwich with manipulator grayscale pixels. The exemplary configurationsof adaptable light manipulator 1600 may be based on control signals thatare received via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B, forexample. In FIG. 16, the grayscale pixels map to the display pixels on aone-to-one basis, but that need not be the case.

A first exemplary configuration of adaptable light manipulator 1600 isshown above the section line denoted with reference numeral 1602. Inaccordance with the first exemplary configuration, a three-dimensionalregion 1604 is created with fully transparent or fully opaquemanipulator pixels that provide parallax barrier functionality and atwo-dimensional region 1606 is created having continuous medium graymanipulator pixels. The medium gray manipulator pixels operate to reducethe perceived brightness of two-dimensional region 1606 to better matchthat of three-dimensional region 1604. It is noted that in other exampleconfigurations, two-dimensional region 1606 could instead comprise athree-dimensional region having a number of views that is different thanthree-dimensional region 1604, thus also requiring brightnessregulation.

In the first exemplary configuration, no boundary region compensation isperformed. In the second exemplary configuration, which is shown belowsection line 1602, boundary region compensation is performed. Forexample, a boundary region 1610 within two-dimensional region 1606 maybe “lightened” to a light gray to compensate for any diminution of lightthat might occur near the boundary with three-dimensional region 1604.In contrast, the grayscale level of an inner portion 1608 oftwo-dimensional region 1606 is maintained at the same medium gray levelas in the portion of two-dimensional region 1606 above section line1602. As a further example, a first boundary region 1612 and a secondboundary region 1614 within three-dimensional region 1604 comprisedarker and lighter gray transitional areas, respectively, to account forlight dispersion from two-dimensional region 1606. In contrast, an innerportion 1616 of three-dimensional region 1604 includes only fullytransparent or fully opaque manipulator pixels consistent with aparallax barrier configuration and no brightness regulation.

In one embodiment, the configuration of adaptable light manipulator 1600is achieved by first creating a white through various grayscale areasthat correspond to the regions and boundary areas to be formed. Onceestablished, the manipulator pixels in these areas that comprise theopaque portions of the parallax barrier are overwritten to turn themblack. Of course this two-stage approach is conceptual only and no“overwriting” need be performed.

In certain embodiments, adaptable light manipulator 1600 comprises theonly component used in a display system for performing brightnessregulation and/or boundary region compensation. In alternateembodiments, the display system further utilizes any one or more of thefollowing aforementioned techniques for performing brightness regulationand/or boundary region compensation: a backlight array withindependently-controllable light sources, and/or a pixel array andassociated control logic for selectively increasing or decreasing theintensity of display pixels (e.g., either LCD pixels or OLED/PLEDpixels). Note that in certain embodiments (such as the one describedabove in reference to FIG. 16), adaptable light manipulator 1600 isimplemented as an integrated adaptable parallax barrier and brightnessregulation overlay. However, in alternate embodiments, adaptable lightmanipulator 1600 is implemented using an adaptable parallax barrierpanel and an independent brightness regulation overlay panel.

B. Example Display Systems Using Adaptable Lenticular Lenses

In display systems in accordance with further embodiments, rather thanusing an adaptable parallax barrier to perform light manipulation insupport of multiple viewing configurations, an adaptable lenticular lensmay be used. For example, with respect to example display system 100 ofFIG. 1C, adaptable parallax barrier 124 may be replaced with anadaptable lenticular lens. Likewise, with respect to example displaysystem 1300 of FIG. 13, adaptable parallax barrier 1326 may be replacedwith an adaptable lenticular lens. The configuration of such anadaptable lenticular lens may be based on control signals that arereceived via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B, forexample.

FIG. 17 shows a perspective view of an exemplary adaptable lenticularlens 1700 in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 17,adaptable lenticular lens 1700 includes a sub-lens array 1702. Sub-lensarray 1702 includes a plurality of sub-lenses 1704 arranged in atwo-dimensional array (e.g., arranged side-by-side in a row). Eachsub-lens 1704 is shown in FIG. 17 as generally cylindrical in shape andhaving a substantially semi-circular cross-section, but in otherembodiments may have other shapes. In FIG. 17, sub-lens array 1702 isshown to include eight sub-lenses for illustrative purposes and is notintended to be limiting. For instance, sub-lens array 1702 may includeany number (e.g., hundreds, thousands, etc.) of sub-lenses 1704. FIG. 18shows a side view of adaptable lenticular lens 1700. In FIG. 18, lightmay be passed through adaptable lenticular lens 1700 in the direction ofdotted arrow 1802 to be diverted. Adaptable lenticular lens 1700 isadaptable in that it can be modified to manipulate light in differentways in order to accommodate different viewing configurations. Forexample, in one embodiment, adaptable lenticular lens is made from anelastic material and can be stretched or shrunk in one or moredirections in response to generated drive signals.

Further description regarding the use of an adaptable lenticular lens todeliver three-dimensional views is provided in the aforementioned,incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/774,307, filed on May5, 2010, and entitled “Display with Elastic Light Manipulator.”

C. Example Display Systems Using Multiple Light Manipulators

Display systems in accordance with further embodiments may includemultiple layers of light manipulators. Such display systems may enablemultiple three-dimensional images to be displayed in a viewing space.The multiple light manipulating layers may enable spatial separation ofthe images. For instance, in accordance with one embodiment, a displaydevice that includes multiple light manipulator layers may be configuredto display a first three-dimensional image in a first region of aviewing space (e.g., a left-side area), a second three-dimensional imagein a second region of the viewing space (e.g., a central area), a thirdthree-dimensional image in a third region of the viewing space (e.g., aright-side area), etc. In fact, a display device that includes multiplelight manipulator layers may be configured to display any number ofspatially separated three-dimensional images as desired for a particularapplication (e.g., according to a number and spacing of viewers in theviewing space, etc.).

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of an exemplary display system 1900 thatincludes multiple light manipulator layers in accordance with anembodiment. As shown in FIG. 19, display system 1900 includes drivercircuitry 1902 and a screen 1904, wherein screen 1904 includes a pixelarray 1922, a first light manipulator 1924 and a second lightmanipulator 1926. As shown in FIG. 19, first light manipulator 1924includes first light manipulator elements 1942 and second lightmanipulator 1926 includes second light manipulator elements 1944.Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19, driver circuitry 1902 includes pixelarray driver circuitry 1912 and light manipulator driver circuitry 1914.

Light 1932 is received at first light manipulator 1924 from pixel array1922. Pixel array driver circuitry 1912 may generate drive signals 1952based on a control signal 1908 received from control circuitry (notshown in FIG. 19) and drive signals 1952 may be received by pixel array1922 to generate light 1932. For example, control signal 1908 may bereceived via a pathway from processing circuitry, such as processingcircuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG. 1B. Eachpixel of pixel array 1922 may generate light that is received at firstlight manipulator 1924. In an embodiment, pixel array driver circuitry1912 may generate drive signals 1952 to cause pixel array 1922 to emitlight 1932 containing a plurality of images corresponding to the sets ofpixels.

First light manipulator 1924 may be configured to manipulate light 1932received from pixel array 1922. As shown in FIG. 19, first lightmanipulator 1924 includes light manipulator elements 1942 configured toperform manipulating (e.g., filtering, diverting, etc.) of light 1932 togenerate manipulated light 1934. Light manipulator elements 1942 mayoptionally be configurable to adjust the manipulating performed by firstlight manipulator 1924. First light manipulator 1924 may performfiltering in a similar manner as an adaptable parallax barrier describedabove or in other manner. In another embodiment, first light manipulator1924 may include a lenticular lens that diverts light 1932 to performlight manipulating, generating manipulated light 1934. In an embodiment,light manipulator driver circuitry 1914 may generate drive signals 1954based on control signal 1908 received by driver circuitry 1902 to causelight manipulator elements 1942 to manipulate light 1932 as desired.

Manipulated light 1934 is received by second light manipulator 1926 togenerate manipulated light 1936 that includes a plurality ofthree-dimensional images 1962A-1962N formed in a viewing space 1906. Itwill be recognized that manipulated light 1936 may include any number Nof three-dimensional images. As shown in FIG. 19, second lightmanipulator 1926 includes light manipulator elements 1944 configured toperform manipulating of manipulated light 1934 to generate manipulatedlight 1936. Light manipulator elements 1944 may optionally beconfigurable to adjust the manipulating performed by second lightmanipulator 1926. In an embodiment, light manipulator driver circuitry1914 may generate drive signals 1956 based on control signal 1908 tocause light manipulator elements 1944 to manipulate manipulated light1934 to generate manipulated light 1936 including three-dimensionalimages 1962A-1962N as desired. In embodiments, second light manipulator1926 may include an adaptable parallax barrier or lenticular lensconfigured to manipulate manipulated light 1934 to generate manipulatedlight 1936.

As such, screen 1904 of display system 1900 supports multiple viewerswith media content in the form of three-dimensional images or views.Screen 1904 may provide a first three-dimensional view based on firstthree-dimensional media content to a first viewer, a secondthree-dimensional view based on second three-dimensional media contentto a second viewer, and optionally further three-dimensional views basedon further three-dimensional media content to further viewers. First andsecond light manipulators 1924 and 1926 each cause three-dimensionalmedia content to be presented to a corresponding viewer via acorresponding area of screen 1904, with each viewer being enabled toview corresponding media content without viewing media content directedto other viewers. Furthermore, the areas of screen 1904 that provide thevarious three-dimensional views of media content overlap each other atleast in part. In the embodiment of FIG. 19, the areas may be the samearea. As such, multiple three-dimensional views that are each viewableby a corresponding viewer may be delivered by a single screen.Embodiments of display system 1900 may also be configured to generatetwo-dimensional views, as well as any combination of one or moretwo-dimensional views simultaneously with one or more three-dimensionalviews.

FIG. 20 shows a block diagram of an exemplary display system 2000, whichis a further example of a display system that includes multiple lightmanipulator layers. Like display system 1900 of FIG. 19, display system2000 is configured to display multiple three-dimensional images2062A-2062N in a viewing space 2006 in a spatially separated manner. Asshown in FIG. 20, display system 2000 includes driver circuitry 2002 anda screen 2004, wherein screen 2004 includes a light generator 2022, afirst light manipulator 2024, a second light manipulator 2026 and apixel array 2028. As shown in FIG. 20, light generator 2022 optionallyincludes a backlight array 2042, first light manipulator 2024 includesfirst light manipulator elements 2044, and second light manipulator 2026includes second light manipulator elements 2046. Furthermore, as shownin FIG. 20, driver circuitry 2002 receives control signals 2008 andincludes light generator driver circuitry 2012, light manipulator drivercircuitry 2014, and pixel array driver circuitry 2016. Control signals2008 may be received via a pathway from processing circuitry, such asprocessing circuitry 162 of FIG. 1A or processing circuitry 103 of FIG.1B, for example. Light generator driver circuitry 2012, lightmanipulator driver circuitry 2014, and pixel array driver circuitry 2016may generate drive signals to perform their respective functions basedon control signals 2008. As shown in FIG. 20, first and second lightmanipulators 2024 and 2026 are positioned between light generator 2022and pixel array 2028. In another embodiment, pixel array 2028 mayinstead be located between first and second light manipulators 2024 and2026.

III. Exemplary Techniques for Supporting Presentation of Multi-Path andMulti-Source Viewing Content

This section describes exemplary systems and methods that supportpresentation of multi-path and multi-source viewing content. Forexample, FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 2100 thatsupports presentation of three-dimensional viewing content based onportions thereof that are received from respective sources in accordancewith an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 21, system 2100 includes a firstsource 2102A, a second source 2102B, a media circuitry 2104, and ascreen 2106. First source 2102A provides first a view portion 2122A ofthree-dimensional (3D) viewing content 2134 via a first pathway 2120A.First view portion 2122A represents a first subset of perspective viewsthat are represented by the 3D viewing content 2134. Second source 2102Bprovides a second view portion 2122B of the 3D viewing content 2134 viaa second pathway 2120B. The second view portion 2122B represents asecond subset of the perspective views that are represented by the 3Dviewing content 2134. Each of the first and second subsets may includeany suitable number (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) of the perspective views that arerepresented by the 3D viewing content 2134. A number of the perspectiveviews that are included in the first subset and a number of theperspective views that are included in the second subset may be the sameor different.

In some embodiments, second source 2102B provides a difference file inlieu of the second view portion 2122B. The difference file defines adifference between the first view portion 2122A and the second viewportion 2122B. Although the following discussion refers repeatedly tothe second view portion 2122B, it will be recognized that the discussionalso applies if second source 2102B provides the difference file in lieuof the second view portion 2122B.

Each of first and second sources 2102A and 2102B may be a remote sourceor a local source. Examples of a remote source include but are notlimited to a broadcast media server or an on-demand media server.Examples of a local source include but are not limited to a disc player(e.g., a DVD player, a CD player, or Blu-Ray disc player), a personalcomputer (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a tabletcomputer), a personal media player, or a smart phone.

Each of the first and second pathways 2120A and 2120B may include one ormore local device pathways, point-to-point links, and/or pathways in ahybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network, a wide-area network (e.g., theInternet), a local area network (LAN), another type of network, or acombination thereof. Each of the first and second pathways 2120A and2120B may support wired, wireless, or both transmission media, includingsatellite, terrestrial (e.g., fiber optic, copper, twisted pair,coaxial, or the like), radio, microwave, free-space optics, and/or anyother form or method of transmission.

Media circuitry 2104 is configured to process the first and second viewportions 2122A and 2122B to support presentation of 3D viewing content2134. Media circuitry 2104 includes first circuitry 2112, secondcircuitry 2114, third circuitry 2116, and fourth circuitry 2118. Firstcircuitry 2112 receives the first and second view portions 2122A and2122B. For example, if the first and second view portions 2122A and2122B are encoded, first circuitry 2112 may decode the first and secondview portions 2122A and 2122B for further processing by second circuitry2114. In accordance with this example, if first circuitry 2112 receivesthe difference file in lieu of the second view portion 2122B from secondsource 2102B, first circuitry 2112 may decode the first view portion2122A and the difference file in accordance with one or more techniquesdescribed in commonly-owned co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.______, filed on even date herewith and entitled “Video CompressionSupporting Selective Delivery of 2D, Stereoscopic 3D and Multi-View 3DContent,” the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

Second circuitry 2114 generates drive signal(s) 2124 based on the firstand second view portions 2122A and 2122B. The drive signal(s) 2124 areintended to control screen 2106 to support a visual presentation of thethree-dimensional viewing content 2134. For example, second circuitry2114 may include pixel array driver circuitry (e.g., pixel array drivercircuitry 112, 1116, 1912, or 2016) for controlling a pixel array (e.g.,pixel array 122, 1126, 1922, or 2028) in screen 2106. In anotherexample, second circuitry 2114 may include light manipulator drivercircuitry (e.g., adaptable parallax barrier driver circuitry 114 or1114, or light manipulator driver circuitry 1914 or 2014) forcontrolling one or more light manipulators (e.g., adaptable parallaxbarrier(s) 124 and/or 1124, and/or light manipulator(s) 1924, 1926, 2024and/or 2026) in screen 2106. In yet another example, second circuitry2114 may include light generator driver circuitry (e.g., light generatordriver circuitry 1112 or 2012) for controlling a light generator (e.g.,light generator 1122 or 2022) in screen 2106.

Second circuitry 2114 may synchronize the first view portion 2122A andthe second view portion 2122B. Second circuitry may buffer the firstview portion 2122A and/or the second view portion 2122B to perform thesynchronization. Such buffering may enable second circuitry 2114 toshift the first view portion 2122A and/or the second view portion 2122Bwith respect to time to align frames that are included in the secondview portion 2122B with corresponding frames that are included in thefirst view portion 2122A, or vice versa. In accordance with thisexample, second circuitry 2114 generates the drive signal(s) in responseto synchronizing the first and second view portions 2122A and 2122B.

Third circuitry 2116 responds to offers that are provided by offersystem 2108. Third circuitry 2116 receives the offers via firstcircuitry 2112. As shown in FIG. 21, first circuitry 2112 receives anoffer 2126 that relates to second view portion 2122B from offer system2108. First circuitry 2112 forwards the offer 2126 to third circuitry2116. In an example, third circuitry 2116 may determine whether toaccept the offer 2126 based on one or more predetermined criteria. Suchcriteria may require, for example, that a cost that is specified by theoffer 2126 be less than a cost threshold, that the offer 2126 specifyone or more perspective views represented by the second view portion2122B that are included among one or more designated perspective views,etc. In another example, third circuitry 2116 may determine whether toaccept the offer 2126 based on input from a viewer. In accordance withthis example, third circuitry 2116 may send a request regarding theoffer 2126 to the viewer and determine whether to accept the offer 2126based on the viewer's response to the request.

Third circuitry 2116 is shown in FIG. 21 to provide an acceptance 2128of the offer 2126 to offer system 2108 for purposes of illustration.Provision of the acceptance 2128 by third circuitry 2116 may trigger anyof a variety of events. For example, second source 2102B may provide thesecond view portion 2122B to first circuitry 2112 in response to thirdcircuitry 2116 providing the acceptance 2128. In another example, offersystem 2108 may provide an enabling signal 2132 to first circuitry 2112that enables media circuitry 2104 to access the second view portion2122B in response to third circuitry 2116 providing the acceptance 2128.For instance, the enabling signal 2132 may include information, such asa passcode or a decryption key, that first circuitry 2112 may use toobtain access to the second view portion 2122B. In yet another example,third circuitry 2116 may trigger a billing event regarding the secondview portion 2122B based at least in part on provision of the acceptance2128. For instance, the billing event may involve billing the viewer acost that is specified in the offer 2126.

The discussion above regarding the offer 2132 and the acceptance 2128 isprovided for illustrative purposes and is not intended to be limiting.It will be recognized that second source 2102B may provide the secondview portion 2122B to first circuitry 2112 regardless whether the offer2126 and the acceptance 2128 are present. Moreover, first circuitry 2112may be capable of accessing the second view portion 2122B regardlesswhether first circuitry 2112 receives the enabling signal 2132.

Fourth circuitry 2108 determines that the first view portion 2122A isreceived by first circuitry 2112. For instance, fourth circuitry 2108may receive an indicator from first circuitry 2112 that indicatesreceipt of the first view portion 2122A. Upon determining that the firstview portion 2122A is received, fourth circuitry 2108 delivers anindication 2130 relating to the first view portion 2122A to offer system2108. The indication 2130 indicates that the first view portion 2122A isreceived by media circuitry 2104. In an embodiment, first circuitry 2112receives the offer 2126 from offer system 2108 in response to fourthcircuitry 2118 providing the indication 2130 to offer system 2108.

Offer system 2108 provides the offer 2126 relating to the second viewportion 2122B to first circuitry 2112. Offer system 2108 may receive theacceptance 2128 from third circuitry 2116 is response to providing theoffer 2126. In one embodiment, upon receiving the acceptance 2128, offersystem 2108 provides then instruction 2134 to second source 2102B. Theinstruction 2134 instructs second source 2102B to deliver the secondview portion 2122B to media circuitry 2104. Accordingly, second sourcemay not deliver the second view portion 2122B to media circuitry 2104until receipt of the instruction 2134. In another embodiment, uponreceiving the acceptance 2128, offer system 2108 provides the enablingsignal 2132 to first circuitry 2112 for enabling media circuitry 2104 toaccess the second view portion 2122B.

The output of media circuitry 2104 comprises the drive signal(s) 2124.Screen 2106 presents the 3D viewing content 2134 in viewing space 2110based on the drive signal(s) 2124. As described above, screen 2106 mayinclude a pixel array, one or more light manipulators, and/or a lightgenerator for supporting presentation of the 3D viewing content 2134.Screen 2106 may be any suitable type of screen, including but notlimited to an LCD screen, a plasma screen, a light emitting device (LED)screen (e.g., an OLED (organic LED) screen), etc.

It will be recognized that although first circuitry 2112, secondcircuitry 2114, third circuitry 2116, and fourth circuitry 2118 arelabeled as such, the functionality of first circuitry 2112, secondcircuitry 2114, third circuitry 2116, and fourth circuitry 2118 may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.Moreover, system 2100 may not include one or more of first source 2102A,second source 2102B, screen 2106, offer system 2108, first circuitry2112, second circuitry 2114, third circuitry 2116, and/or fourthcircuitry 2118. Furthermore, system 2100 may include elements inaddition to or in lieu of first source 2102A, second source 2102B,screen 2106, offer system 2108, first circuitry 2112, second circuitry2114, third circuitry 2116, and/or fourth circuitry 2118.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of another exemplary system 2100 thatsupports presentation of three-dimensional viewing content based onportions thereof that are received from respective sources in accordancewith an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 22, display system 2200 includes afirst source 2202A, a second source 2202B, media circuitry 2204, and ascreen 2206. First and second sources 2202A and 2202B and screen 2206operate in like manner to first and second sources 2102A and 2102B andscreen 2106, as described above with reference to FIG. 21. For instance,first and second sources 2202A and 2202B provide respective first andsecond view portions 2222A and 2222B via respective first and secondpathways 2220A and 2220B to media circuitry 2104. Screen 2206 presents3D viewing content 2234 in viewing space 2210 based on drive signal(s)2224 that are received from media circuitry 2204.

Media circuitry 2204 includes first circuitry 2212, second circuitry2214, and third circuitry 2216. First and second circuitry 2212 and 2214operate in like manner to first and second circuitry 2112 and 2114, asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 21. For instance, first circuitry2212 receives the first and second view portions 2222A and 2222B fromfirst and second sources 2202A and 2202B. Second circuitry 2214generates the drive signal(s) 2224 based on the first and second viewportions 2222A and 2222B.

First circuitry 2212 is shown in FIG. 22 to receive a control signal2236, a search instruction 2238, and an orientation indication 2240 forillustrative purposes. It will be recognized that first circuitry 2212need not necessarily receive each of the control signal 2236, the searchinstruction 2238, and the orientation indication 2240. For instance,first circuitry may receive any one or more of the control signal 2236,the search instruction 2238, and/or the orientation indication 2240.

The control signal 2236 is generated in response to viewer input. Forinstance, the control signal 2236 may specify one or more portions orperspective views that are identified by the viewer input. Firstcircuitry 2212 may receive the control signal 2236 from a user inputinterface that is accessible to the viewer. The user input interface maybe a remote control device, a traditional computer input device such asa keyboard or mouse, a touch screen, a gamepad or other type of gamingconsole input device, or one or more sensors including but not limitedto video cameras, microphones and motion sensors. In an embodiment,third circuitry 2216 selects the second view portion 2222B based on thecontrol signal 2236. For instance, third circuitry 2216 may reviewavailable portions of content to identify the portion(s) that arespecified by the control signal 2236 or that represent perspective viewsthat are specified by the control signal 2236. In accordance with thisembodiment, third circuitry 2216 may select the second view portion2222B in response to the second view portion 2222B including theidentified portion(s).

The search instruction 2238 is intended to initiate a search forportion(s) of content that may be combined with the first view portion2222A for presentation of the 3D viewing content 2234. The searchinstruction 2238 may be generated by a user input interface in responseto viewer input, for example. In an embodiment, third circuitry 2216initiates the search based on the search instruction 2238. In accordancewith this embodiment, first circuitry 2212 may receive the second viewportion 2222B in response to initiation of the search.

The orientation indication 2240 indicates an orientation of the viewerwith respect to screen 2206. For example, the orientation indication2240 may be received from a device that is worn by the viewer, held bythe viewer, sitting in the viewer's lap, in the viewer's pocket, sittingnext the viewer, etc. In another example, the orientation indication2240 may be received in response to a distancing signal that istransmitted toward the viewer by third circuitry 2216. In accordancewith this example, third circuitry 2216 may determine an orientation(e.g., location) of the viewer based on a difference between a time atwhich third circuitry 2216 transmits the distancing signal and a time atwhich third circuitry receives the orientation indication 2240. Forinstance, a reflection of the distancing signal from the viewer may bereceived by third circuitry 2216 as the orientation indication 2240.

In an embodiment, third circuitry 2216 selects the second view portion2222B based on the orientation of the viewer, as indicated by theorientation indication 2240. As shown in FIG. 22, third circuitry 2216provides a selection instruction 2242 to second source 2202B. Theselection instruction 2242 instructs second source 2202B to provide thesecond view portion 2222B to media circuitry 2204.

In an example, if the orientation indication 2240 indicates that theorientation of the viewer is toward a left side of screen 2206, thirdcircuitry 2216 may select the second view portion 2222B based on thesecond view portion 2222B representing perspective views that facilitatea left-oriented viewing experience, such as perspective views 1, 2, and4 of 3D8 viewing content. In accordance with this example, if the firstview portion 2222A represents a single perspective view, such asperspective view 3, the 3D viewing content 2234 may be presented as 3D4viewing content that represents perspective views 1, 2, 3, and 4.

In another example, if the orientation indication 2240 indicates thatthe orientation of the viewer is substantially aligned with a center ofscreen 2206, third circuitry 2216 may select the second view portion2222B based on the second view portion 2222B representing perspectiveviews that facilitate a center-oriented viewing experience, such asperspective views 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14 of 3D16 viewing content. Inaccordance with this example, if the first view portion 2222A representstwo perspective views, such as perspective views 5 and 9, the 3D viewingcontent 2234 may be presented as 3D8 viewing content that representsperspective views 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, and 14.

In yet another example, if the orientation indication 2240 indicatesthat the orientation of the viewer is toward a right side of screen2206, third circuitry 2216 may select the second view portion 2222 basedon the second view portion 2222 representing perspective views thatfacilitate a right-oriented viewing experience, such as perspectiveviews 9, 11, 13, and 15 of 3D16 viewing content. In accordance with thisexample, if the first view portion 2222A represents four perspectiveviews (e.g., perspective views 8, 10, 12, and 14), the 3D viewingcontent 2234 may be presented as 3D8 viewing content that representsperspective views 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15. The examplesprovided herein are merely teaching examples and are not intended to belimiting.

Presentation of multi-path and multi-source viewing content may besupported in a variety of ways according to embodiments. For instance,FIGS. 23-29 depicts flowcharts 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, and2900 of exemplary methods for supporting presentation ofthree-dimensional viewing content based on portions thereof that arereceived from respective sources in accordance with embodiments.Flowcharts 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, and 2900 may be performedby system 2100 shown in FIG. 21 or system 2200 shown in FIG. 22, forexample. However the methods of flowcharts 2300, 2400, 2500, 2600, 2700,2800, and 2900 are not limited to those embodiments. Further structuraland operational embodiments will be apparent to persons skilled in therelevant art(s) based on the discussion regarding flowcharts 2300, 2400,2500, 2600, 2700, 2800, and 2900.

As shown in FIG. 23, flowchart 2300 begins with step 2302. In step 2302,a first data portion of three-dimensional viewing content is receivedvia a first pathway. The first data portion originates from a firstsource. The first data portion is associated with a first perspectiveview. For instance, the first data portion may comprise atwo-dimensional portion of the three-dimensional viewing content, thoughthe scope of the embodiments is not limited in this respect. In anexemplary implementation, first circuitry 2112 or 2212 receives firstview portion 2122A or 2222A of 3D viewing content 2134 or 2234 via firstpathway 2120A or 2220A. First view portion 2122A or 2222A originatesfrom first source 2102A or 2202A.

At step 2304, a second data portion of the three-dimensional viewingcontent is received via a second pathway. The second data portionoriginates from a second source. The second data portion is associatedwith a second perspective view. In an exemplary implementation, firstcircuitry 2112 or 2212 receives second view portion 2122B or 2222B of 3Dviewing content 2134 or 2234 via second pathway 2120B or 2220B. Secondview portion 2122B or 2222B originates from second source 2102B or2202B.

At step 2306, a visual presentation of the three-dimensional viewingcontent is caused based on both the first data portion and the seconddata portion. In an exemplary implementation, second circuitry 2114 or2214 causes a visual presentation of 3D viewing content 2134 or 2234based on both the first view portion 2122A or 2222A and the second viewportion 2122B or 2222B.

In an embodiment, instead of performing step 2304 of flowchart 2300, thesteps shown in flowchart 2400 or flowchart 2500 of respective FIG. 24 or25 may be performed. As shown in FIG. 24, flowchart 2400 begins at step2402. In step 2402, a search for a second data portion of thethree-dimensional viewing content is initiated in response to a searchinstruction. In an exemplary implementation, third circuitry 2216initiates a search for second view portion 2222B in response to searchinstruction 2238.

At step 2404, the second data portion is received via a second pathwayin response to initiating the search. The second data portion originatesfrom a second source. The second data portion is associated with asecond perspective view. In an exemplary implementation, first circuitry2212 second view portion 2222B.

As shown in FIG. 25, flowchart 2500 begins at step 2502. In step 2502,an offer relating to a second data portion of the three-dimensionalviewing content is received. In an exemplary implementation, firstcircuitry 2112 receives offer 2126 relating to second view portion2122B.

At step 2504, acceptance of the offer is carried out. For instance,carrying out the acceptance of the offer may trigger a billing eventregarding the second data portion. In an exemplary implementation, thirdcircuitry 2116 carries out acceptance of offer 2126. For instance, Thirdcircuitry 2116 may provide acceptance 2128 to accept offer 2126.

At step 2506, the second data portion is received via a second pathway.The second data portion originates from a second source. The second dataportion is associated with a second perspective view. In an exemplaryimplementation, first circuitry 2112 receives second view portion 2122Bvia second pathway 2120B.

In an embodiment, instead of performing step 2502 of flowchart 2500, thesteps shown in flowchart 2600 of FIG. 26 may be performed. As shown inFIG. 26, flowchart 2600 begins at step 2602. In step 2602, an indicationrelating to the first data portion is delivered. In an exemplaryimplementation, fourth circuitry 2118 delivers indication 2130 relatingto first view portion 2122A.

At step 2604, an offer relating to a second data portion of thethree-dimensional viewing content is received. The offer is based atleast in part on the indication. In an exemplary implementation, firstcircuitry 2112 receives offer 2126 relating to second view portion2122B.

Flowchart 2300 of FIG. 3 may further include the step shown in flowchart2700 of FIG. 27 or the step shown in flowchart 2800 of FIG. 28. As shownin FIG. 27, flowchart 2700 includes step 2702. At step 2702, the seconddata portion is selected based on an orientation of a viewer withrespect to a screen assembly that supports the visual presentation ofthe three-dimensional viewing content. In an exemplary implementation,third circuitry 2216 selects second view portion 2222B based on anorientation of a viewer with respect to screen 2206, which supportsvisual presentation of 3D viewing content 2234.

As shown in FIG. 28, flowchart 2800 includes step 2802. At step 2802,the second data portion is selected based on viewer input. In anexemplary implementation, third circuitry 2216 selects second viewportion 2222B based on control signal 2236, which is generated inresponse to viewer input.

FIG. 29 depicts an exemplary implementation of the method of flowchart2300 in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 29, flowchart2900 begins at step 2902. In step 2902, a first data portion ofthree-dimensional viewing content that comprises a two-dimensionalportion is received via a first pathway. The first data portion isassociated with a single first perspective view. The first data portionoriginates from a storage that is local to a device that causes a visualpresentation of the three-dimensional viewing content. In an exemplaryimplementation, first circuitry 2112 or 2212 receives first view portion2122A or 2222A via a first pathway 2120A or 2220A. In accordance withthis implementation, first view portion 2122A or 2222A comprises atwo-dimensional portion and is associated with a single firstperspective view. Further in accordance with this implementation, firstview portion 2122A or 2222A originates from first source 2102A or 2202A,which may be local to a device that includes media circuitry 2104 or2204, for example.

At step 2904, a second data portion of the three-dimensional viewingcontent is received via a second pathway. The second data portion isassociated with at least one second perspective view. The second dataportion originates from a second source. In an exemplary implementation,first circuitry 2112 or 2212 receives second view portion 2122B or 2222Bvia a second pathway 2120B or 2220B. In accordance with thisimplementation, second view portion 2122B or 2222B is associated with atleast one second perspective view. Further in accordance with thisimplementation, second view portion 2122B or 2222B originates fromsecond source 2102B or 2202B. For instance, second source 2102B or 2202Bmay be local or remote to the device that includes media circuitry 2104or 2204.

At step 2906, the visual presentation of the three-dimensional viewingcontent is caused based on both the first data portion and the seconddata portion. The three-dimensional viewing content represents at leasttwo perspective views. In an exemplary implementation, second circuitry2114 or 2214 causes a visual presentation of 3D viewing content 2134 or2234 based on both the first view portion 2122A or 2222A and the secondview portion 2122B or 2222B. In accordance with this exemplaryimplementation, 3D viewing content 2134 or 2234 represents at least twoperspective views.

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of an exemplary system 3000 that directsconfigurations of respective regions of a screen assembly to supportdisplay of respective instances of content in accordance with anembodiment. As shown in FIG. 30, system 3000 includes first source3002A, second source 3002B, media system 3004, and screen 3006. Firstsource 3002A provides a first content instance 3022A via a first pathway3020A. Second source 3002B provides a second content instance 3022B viaa second pathway 3020B. Each of the first and second content instances3022A and 3022B may represent any suitable number of perspective views.A number of perspective views represented by the first content instance3022A and a number of perspective views represented by the secondcontent instance 3022B may be the same or different.

First source 3002A and/or second source 3002B may include multiplesources. For example, portions of the first content instance 3022A maybe provided by respective sources that are included in first source3002A. Each portion of the first content instance 3022A may represent arespective subset of the perspective views that are represented by thefirst content instance 3022A. In another example, portions of the secondcontent instance 3022B may be provided by respective sources that areincluded in second source 3002B. Each portion of the second contentinstance 3022B may represent a respective subset of the perspectiveviews that are represented by the second content instance 3022B.

Media circuitry 3004 includes first circuitry 3012 and second circuitry3014. First circuitry 3012 receives the first and second contentinstances 3022A and 3022B. For example, if the first and second contentinstances 3022A and 3022B are encoded, first circuitry 3012 may decodethe first and second content instances 3022A and 3022B for furtherprocessing by second circuitry 3014.

Second circuitry 3014 generates first drive signal(s) 3024A to direct afirst configuration of a first region 3044A of screen 3006. The firstconfiguration supports display of the first content instance 3022A.Second circuitry 3014 further generates second drive signal(s) 3024B todirect a second configuration of a second region 3044B of screen 3006.The second configuration supports display of the second content instance3022B. The second configuration is different from the firstconfiguration.

For example, second circuitry 3014 may include pixel array drivercircuitry (e.g., pixel array driver circuitry 112, 1116, 1912, or 2016)for generating pixel array drive signals (e.g., drive signals 152, 1156,or 1952). In another example, second circuitry 3014 may include lightmanipulator driver circuitry (e.g., adaptable parallax barrier drivercircuitry 114 or 1114, or light manipulator driver circuitry 1914 or2014) for generating light manipulator drive signals (e.g., drivesignals 154, 1154, 1954, and/or 1956). In yet another example, secondcircuitry 3014 may include light generator driver circuitry (e.g., lightgenerator driver circuitry 1112 or 2012) for generating light generatordrive signals (e.g., drive signals 1152). Any of the aforementioneddrive signals may be included among the first and second drive signal(s)3024A and 3024B.

Screen 3006 includes first region 3044A and second region 3044B. Thefirst and second regions 3044A and 3044B may include respective portionsof a pixel array (e.g., pixel array 122, 1126, 1922, or 2028),respective portions of one or more light manipulators (e.g., adaptableparallax barrier(s) 124 and/or 1124, and/or light manipulator(s) 1924,1926, 2024 and/or 2026), and/or respective portions of a light generator(e.g., light generator 1122 or 2022). For instance, the first drivesignal(s) 3024A may be configured to control configurations of theportions of the pixel array, light manipulator(s), and/or lightgenerator that are included in first region 3044A. The second drivesignal(s) 3024B may be configured to control configurations of theportions of the pixel array, light manipulator(s), and/or lightgenerator that are included in second region 3044B.

FIG. 31 depicts a flowchart 3100 of a method for directingconfigurations of respective regions of a screen assembly for supportingdisplay of respective instances of content in accordance withembodiments. As shown in FIG. 31, flowchart 3100 begins at step 3102. Instep 3102, first viewing content that originates from a first source isreceived via a first pathway. In an exemplary implementation, firstcircuitry 3012 receives first content instance 3022A via first pathway3020A. In accordance with this implementation, the first contentinstance 3022A originates from first source 3002A.

At step 3104, second viewing content that originates from a secondsource is received via a second pathway. In an exemplary implementation,first circuitry 3012 receives second content instance 3022B via secondpathway 3020B. In accordance with this implementation, the secondcontent instance 3022B originates from second source 3002B.

In an embodiment, the first pathway comprises a local pathway, and thesecond pathway comprises a remote pathway. A local pathway is a pathwayfrom a local source. A remote pathway is a pathway from a remote source.Examples of a remote source include but are not limited to a broadcastmedia server or an on-demand media server. Examples of a local sourceinclude but are not limited to a disc player (e.g., a DVD player, a CDplayer, or Blu-Ray disc player), a personal computer (e.g., a desktopcomputer, a laptop computer, or a tablet computer), a personal mediaplayer, or a smart phone.

In another embodiment, the first viewing content is two-dimensionalcontent, and the second viewing content is three-dimensional content. Inaccordance with this embodiment, the first viewing content represents asingle perspective view. In further accordance with this embodiment, thesecond viewing content represents multiple views, any two of which maybe combined for perception as three-dimensional image(s).

In yet another embodiment, the first viewing content is firstthree-dimensional content, and the second viewing content is secondthree-dimensional content. The first three-dimensional content mayrepresent a first number of perspectives, and the secondthree-dimensional content may represent a second number of perspectives.The first number may be different from or the same as the first number.

The second viewing content may be related to the first viewing contentor unrelated to the first viewing content. If the first viewing contentand the second viewing content correspond to a common video event, thefirst viewing content and the second viewing content are said to berelated. Otherwise, the first viewing content and the second viewingcontent are said to be unrelated.

At step 3106, a first configuration of a first region of a screenassembly is directed. The first configuration supports display of thefirst viewing content. In an exemplary implementation, second circuitry3014 directs a first configuration of first region 3044A of screen 3006.In accordance with this implementation, the first configuration of firstregion 3044A supports display of first content instance 3022A.

At step 3108, a second configuration of a second region of the screenassembly is directed. The second configuration supports display of thesecond viewing content. The second configuration is different from thefirst configuration. In an exemplary implementation, second circuitry3014 directs a second configuration of second region 3044B of screen3006 that is different from the first configuration of first region3044A. In accordance with this implementation, the second configurationof second region 3044B supports display of second content instance3022B.

FIG. 32 is a block diagram of an example practical implementation of adisplay system 3200 in accordance with an embodiment. As shown in FIG.32, display system 3200 generally comprises control circuitry 3202,driver circuitry 3204 and a screen 3206.

As shown in FIG. 32, control circuitry 3202 includes a processing unit3214, which may comprise one or more general-purpose or special-purposeprocessors or one or more processing cores. Processing unit 3214 isconnected to a communication infrastructure 3212, such as acommunication bus. Control circuitry 3202 may also include a primary ormain memory (not shown in FIG. 32), such as random access memory (RAM),that is connected to communication infrastructure 3212. The main memorymay have control logic stored thereon for execution by processing unit3214 as well as data stored thereon that may be input to or output byprocessing unit 3214 during execution of such control logic.

Control circuitry 3202 may also include one or more secondary storagedevices (not shown in FIG. 32) that are connected to communicationinfrastructure 3212, including but not limited to a hard disk drive, aremovable storage drive (such as an optical disk drive, a floppy diskdrive, a magnetic tape drive, or the like), or an interface forcommunicating with a removable storage unit such as an interface forcommunicating with a memory card, memory stick or the like. Each ofthese secondary storage devices provide an additional means for storingcontrol logic for execution by processing unit 3214 as well as data thatmay be input to or output by processing unit 3214 during execution ofsuch control logic.

Control circuitry 3202 further includes a user input interface 3218, aviewer tracking unit 3216, and a media interface 3220. User inputinterface 3218 is intended to generally represent any type of interfacethat may be used to receive user input, including but not limited to aremote control device, a traditional computer input device such as akeyboard or mouse, a touch screen, a gamepad or other type of gamingconsole input device, or one or more sensors including but not limitedto video cameras, microphones and motion sensors.

Viewer tracking unit 3216 is intended to generally represent any type offunctionality for determining or estimating a location of one or moreviewers of display system 3200 and/or a head orientation of one or moreviewers of display system 3200. Viewer tracking unit may perform suchfunctions using different types of sensors (e.g., cameras, motionsensors, microphones or the like) or by using tracking systems such asthose that wirelessly track an object (e.g., headset, remote control, orthe like) currently being held or worn by a viewer.

Media interface 3220 is intended to represent any type of interface thatis capable of receiving media content such as video content or imagecontent. In certain implementations, media interface 3220 may comprisean interface for receiving media content from a remote source such as abroadcast media server, an on-demand media server, or the like. In suchimplementations, media interface 3220 may comprise, for example andwithout limitation, a wired or wireless internet or intranet connection,a satellite interface, a fiber interface, a coaxial cable interface, ora fiber-coaxial cable interface. Media interface 3220 may also comprisean interface for receiving media content from a local source such as aDVD or Blu-Ray disc player, a personal computer, a personal mediaplayer, smart phone, or the like. Media interface 3220 may be capable ofretrieving video content from multiple sources.

Control circuitry 3202 further includes a communication interface 3222.Communication interface 3222 enables control circuitry 3202 to sendcontrol signals via a communication medium 3252 to another communicationinterface 3230 within driver circuitry 3204, thereby enabling controlcircuitry 3202 to control the operation of driver circuitry 3204.Communication medium 3252 may comprise any kind of wired or wirelesscommunication medium suitable for transmitting such control signals.

As shown in FIG. 32, driver circuitry 3204 includes the aforementionedcommunication interface 3230 as well as pixel array driver circuitry3232 and adaptable light manipulator driver circuitry 3234. Drivercircuitry also optionally includes light generator driver circuitry3236. Each of these driver circuitry elements is configured to receivecontrol signals from control circuitry 3202 (via the link betweencommunication interface 3222 and communication interface 3230) and,responsive thereto, to send selected drive signals to a correspondinghardware element within screen 3206, the drive signals causing thecorresponding hardware element to operate in a particular manner. Inparticular, pixel array driver circuitry 3232 is configured to sendselected drive signals to a pixel array 3242 within screen 3206,adaptable light manipulator driver circuitry 3234 is configured to sendselected drive signals to an adaptable light manipulator 3244 withinscreen elements 3206, and optional light generator driver circuitry 3236is configured to send selected drive signals to an optional lightgenerator 3246 within screen 3206.

In one example mode of operation, processing unit 3214 operates pursuantto control logic to receive video content via media interface 3220 andto generate control signals necessary to cause driver circuitry 3204 torender such video content to screen 3206 in accordance with a selectedviewing configuration. The control logic that is executed by processingunit 3214 may be retrieved, for example, from a primary memory or asecondary storage device connected to processing unit 3214 viacommunication infrastructure 3212 as discussed above. The control logicmay also be retrieved from some other local or remote source. Where thecontrol logic is stored on a computer readable medium, that computerreadable medium may be referred to herein as a computer program product.

Among other features, driver circuitry 3204 may be controlled in amanner previously described to send coordinated drive signals necessaryfor simultaneously displaying two-dimensional images, three-dimensionalimages and multi-view three-dimensional content via different displayregions of the screen. The manner in which pixel array 3242, adaptablelight manipulator 3244 (e.g., an adaptable parallax barrier), and lightgenerator 3246 may be manipulated in a coordinated fashion to performthis function was described previously herein. Note that in accordancewith certain implementations (e.g., implementations in which pixel arraycomprises an OLED/PLED pixel array), screen 3206 need not include lightgenerator 3246.

In one embodiment, at least part of the function of generating controlsignals necessary to cause pixel array 3242, adaptable light manipulator3244 and light generator 3246 to render video content to screen 3206 inaccordance with a selected viewing configuration is performed by drivesignal processing circuitry 3238 which is integrated within drivercircuitry 3204. Such circuitry may operate, for example, in conjunctionwith and/or under the control of processing unit 3214 to generate thenecessary control signals.

In certain implementations, control circuitry 3202, driver circuitry3204 and screen elements 3206 are all included within a single housing.For example and without limitation, all these elements may exist withina television, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, or a telephone. Inaccordance with such an implementation, the link 3252 formed betweencommunication interfaces 3222 and 3230 may be replaced by a directconnection between driver circuitry 3204 and communicationinfrastructure 3212. In an alternate implementation, control circuitry3202 is disposed within a first housing, such as set top box or personalcomputer, and driver circuitry 3204 and screen 3206 are disposed withina second housing, such as a television or computer monitor. The set topbox may be any type of set top box including but not limited to fiber,Internet, cable, satellite, or terrestrial digital.

IV. Conclusion

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilledin the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not belimited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but shouldbe defined only in accordance with the following claims and theirequivalents.

1. A method used with three-dimensional viewing content, thethree-dimensional viewing content having both a first data portionassociated with a first perspective view and a second data portionassociated with a second perspective view, the method comprising:receiving the first data portion that originates from a first source viaa first pathway; receiving the second data portion that originates froma second source via a second pathway; and causing a visual presentationof the three-dimensional viewing content based on both the first dataportion and the second data portion.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising: receiving an offer relating to the second data portion; andcarrying out acceptance of the offer; wherein receiving the second dataportion comprises: receiving the second data portion in response tocarrying out the acceptance of the offer.
 3. The method of claim 2,further comprising: delivering an indication relating to the first dataportion; wherein the offer is based at least in part on the indication.4. The method of claim 2, wherein carrying out the acceptance of theoffer triggers a billing event regarding the second data portion.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the first data portion comprising atwo-dimensional portion of the three-dimensional viewing content.
 6. Themethod of claim 5, wherein receiving the first data portion comprises:receiving the first data portion that represents a single perspectiveview from a storage that is local to a device that causes the visualpresentation of the three-dimensional viewing content; wherein receivingthe second data portion comprises: receiving the second data portionthat represents at least one other perspective view; and wherein causingthe visual presentation comprises: causing the visual presentation ofthe three-dimensional viewing content that represents at least twoperspective views.
 7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:selecting the second data portion based on an orientation of a viewerwith respect to a screen assembly that supports the visual presentationof the three-dimensional viewing content.
 8. The method of claim 1,further comprising: selecting the second data portion based on viewerinput.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprising: initiating a searchfor the second data in response to a search instruction; whereinreceiving the second data portion comprises: receiving the second dataportion in response to initiating the search.
 10. A method used todisplay first viewing content and second viewing content on a screenassembly, the method comprising: receiving the first viewing contentthat originates from a first source via a first pathway; receiving thesecond viewing content that originates from a second source via a secondpathway; directing a first configuration of a first region of the screenassembly, the first configuration supporting display of the firstviewing content; and directing a second configuration of a second regionof the screen assembly, the second configuration supporting display ofthe second viewing content, and the second configuration being differentfrom the first configuration.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thefirst pathway comprises a local pathway and the second pathway comprisesa remote pathway.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the second viewingcontent is unrelated to the first viewing content.
 13. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the first viewing content is two-dimensional content;and wherein the second viewing content is three-dimensional content. 14.The method of claim 10, wherein the first viewing content is firstthree-dimensional content that represents a first number ofperspectives; and wherein the second viewing content is secondthree-dimensional content that represents a second number ofperspectives, the second number being different from the first number.15. Media circuitry that supports three-dimensional viewing content, thethree-dimensional viewing content having both a first view portionassociated with a first perspective view and a second view portionassociated with a second perspective view, the media circuitrycomprising: first circuitry that receives both the first view portionthat originates from a first source via a first pathway, and the secondview portion that originates from a second source via a second pathway;and second circuitry that causes a visual presentation of thethree-dimensional viewing content based on both the first view portionand the second view portion.
 16. The media circuitry of claim 15,wherein the first circuitry receives an offer relating to the secondview portion; and wherein the media circuitry further comprises: thirdcircuitry that carries out acceptance of the offer.
 17. The mediacircuitry of claim 16, further comprising: fourth circuitry thatdelivers an indication relating to the first view portion; wherein theoffer is based on the indication.
 18. The media circuitry of claim 16,wherein the third circuitry triggers a billing event regarding thesecond view portion based at least in part on acceptance of the offer.19. The media circuitry of claim 15, wherein the first view portionrepresents a single perspective view of the three-dimensional viewingcontent.
 20. The media circuitry of claim 19, wherein the firstcircuitry receives the first view portion from a storage that is localto a device that includes the media circuitry; and wherein thethree-dimensional viewing content represents at least two perspectiveviews.
 21. The media circuitry of claim 15, further comprising: thirdcircuitry that selects the second view portion based on an orientationof a viewer with respect to a screen assembly on which the secondcircuitry causes the visual presentation of the three-dimensionalviewing content.
 22. The media circuitry of claim 15, wherein the firstcircuitry receives a control signal that is generated in response toviewer input; and wherein the media circuitry further comprises: thirdcircuitry that selects the second view portion based on the controlsignal.
 23. The media circuitry of claim 15, further comprising: thirdcircuitry that initiates a search for the second data in response to asearch instruction; wherein the first circuitry receives the second dataportion in response to initiation of the search.
 24. A media system thatsupports display of first content and second content on a screenassembly, the media system comprising: first circuitry that receivesboth the first content that originates from a first source via a firstpathway, and the second content that originates from a second source viaa second pathway; second circuitry that directs a first configuration ofa first region of the screen assembly, the first configurationsupporting display of the first content; and the second circuitrydirects a second configuration of a second region of the screenassembly, the second configuration supporting display of the secondcontent, and the second configuration being different from the firstconfiguration.
 25. The media system of claim 24, wherein the firstpathway comprises a local pathway and the second pathway comprises aremote pathway.
 26. The media system of claim 24, wherein the secondviewing content is unrelated to the first viewing content.
 27. The mediasystem of claim 24, wherein the first viewing content is two-dimensionalcontent; and wherein the second viewing content is three-dimensionalcontent.
 28. The media system of claim 24, wherein the first viewingcontent is first three-dimensional content that represents a firstnumber of perspectives; and wherein the second viewing content is secondthree-dimensional content that represents a second number ofperspectives, the second number being different from the first number.